Jason’s Hill is an awesome winery. Their wine is awesome. The 2016 Chenin is fantastic. Apparently the 2019 was a bit of an experiment. The fact it was part of a special suggests that maybe the experiment wasn’t as successful as hoped. Maybe I’m lashing out because I’m sick of lockdown. Go to Jason’s Hill […]
Homemade Wine #1
Imagine a bottle of vinegar having a battle with a bottle of sweetened juice and no one winning, least of all me. Turns out that making good wine is a bit more complex than mixing grape juice and yeast, which is literally all I did. Thank god lockdown ends at the weekend.
Jason’s Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
More medals than Zinedine Zidane, and far less likely to headbutt you if you ask after its sister. This bottle was purchased during happier times and the taste is as good as the memories.
Steenberg Semillon 2017
Another day of lockdown, another bottle from the collection drunk before its prime. Although this tasted pretty amazing so either it’s hit it’s peak already, or it’s good enough for my basic tastes. We’ll never know. Here’s to making it through this madness.
Lanzerac Syrah 2015
One of those wines that tastes pretty awesome when you take the first sip, and after a mouthful of dinner and a second sip, blows your hair back. For best results, drink in front of the TV with your family after a shitty day.
Sumaridge Pinotage 2015
The lockdown inflicted burn through my wine collection continues with this big fruity Pinotage. The list of wine farms I’m heading to on my 5 year pilgrimage when lockdown ends just increased by 1. Can’t say I remember drinking much Pinotage when we drank our way through the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which makes this even more […]
Gabriëlskloof Syrah on Shale 2015
The classic “calling it Syrah instead of Shiraz” / wax sealed cork combo that makes your bank manager wince. Fortunately my memories of the going to the wine farm involve an awesome wedding and getting slowly smashed with my parents so my scorched wallet is long forgotten. This is also a damn good wine.
Buitenverwachting Block 8 2017
One of my favourite South African Pinot Noirs. Smells like the southern peninsula sea air, tastes smoother than an Olympia Cafe coffee but with a bit of the southern rough that you want in a Pinot Noir.
Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2016
I have happy memories of drinking large quantities of this in the sun with family and good friends so it’s guaranteed to make me smile, but it’s that good that it doesn’t need the help. Smells like the sea (in a wholesome way rather than dead fish and sewage) went perfectly with my perfectly braaied […]
