Fancy a nice glass of red? From silky and smooth to big and bold, a great red wine depends on personal taste. The different aroma and taste textures make you want to explore the fascinating world of red wines.
It’s been said that those who drink red wine are the most happiest people! One of the most simplest pleasures in life is a glass of red wine in hand.
Red wines can be very overwhelming when you don’t know your Merlot from your Shiraz, but that doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying a good bottle of red wine.
Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar is a specialist wine retailer situated in central Cape Town. The company’s two stores are owned and managed by Caroline Rillema, who has many years of experience in the wine industry. Her passion has taken her to the major wine regions of the world, and she applies her knowledge in selecting the finest imported and South African wines she can find.
The annual red wine review took place at the beautiful Table Bay Hotel situated in the V&A Waterfront.
It was one of the most esteemed events where each winery together with the winemaker showcased an array of 60 of the finest flagship wines in the country.
The ballroom sets the scene for the tasting. The atmosphere was formal yet relaxed, with beautiful chandeliers and flowers to set the ambiance.
Here is a list of some of the wines we tasted:
EAGLE’S NEST – SHIRAZ 2015
On the nose, aromas of freshly blueberry and black cherry. On the palate creamy mouth filling tannins integrate with pepper spice to embrace your taste buds and deliver a delicious, savoury flavour sensation.
CREATION – THE ART OF PINOT NOIR 2016
The nose shows cherries, strawberries, plums plus hints of oak-derived vanilla and spice. The palate is rich and smooth textured, plenty of sweet fruit offset by tangy acidity.
DELAIRE GRAFF – ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
Velvet textured, complex and powerful. Cassis, dark fruit and spicy flavours dominate in a layered and lingering delivery. The wine is suited for aging of 6-10 year.
HAMILTON RUSSELL – PINOT NOIR 2017
The nose shows red fruit, roses, smoked meat and spice. The palate shows good flavour intensity with fresh acidity and fine tannins. Pure fruit and freshness but also nice tannic structure that suggests a long future.
PAUL CLUVER – SEVEN FLAGS PINOT NOIR 2016
On the nose you get a combination of red berry, spice and dark chocolate. The palate is a continuation of all found on the nose. Structured and poised, with a tantalizing mineral core.
OAK VALLEY – GROENLANDBERG PINOT NOIR 2017
Delicious berry flavours of maraschino cherry, vibrant strawberry and raspberry notes. Juicy, clean, soft, and elegant.
CHAMONIX – PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2016
This Reserve shows notes of cherry, wild red berries, crushed black pepper, cinnamon and violets on the nose. Although firm in structure and intense in flavour, textures are mellow and round, with a great lingering aftertaste.
NICO VAN DER MERWE WINES – SYRAH 2015
This Rhone-style Shiraz, concentrated and elegant, displays intense black fruit and pepper notes laced with soft, silky tannins.
STARK-CONDé – THREE PINES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
This Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly rich and soft. The nose carries cedar with blackberry aromas while the palate adds mocha to the fruity flavours. The wine fine with a lengthy finish.
SIMONSIG – THE GARLAND CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010
Dark black cherries, blackcurrant and violets on the nose. This wine is made more complex by a lengthy finish of vanilla oak and spicy clove.
DE TRAFFORD – CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
Intense rich, ripe cassis and blackberry nose with lovely spicy and creamy fynbos aromas. Rich, ripe fruit on palate with layers of spice and creamy fynbos. Great intensity with prominent fine tannins that carry the wine to a long finish.
SIJNN – FREE REIGN 1ST EDITION BLEND NV
It is a blend that consists of Syrah and Touriga Nacional. Dense ruby with a youthful rim. The nose seamlessly carries through to the palate where it feels as if fresh berries are popping lending a fresh, crisp acidity to the crushed velvet texture with allspice and nutmeg notes.
TRIZANNE SIGNATURE WINES – RESERVE SYRAH 2017
Strawberries, cranberries, hints of pomegranate on the nose, neatly integrated with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Spiciness follows through. This is a superb, sophisticated wine.
UVA MIRA – THE MIRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015
The palate is silky with concentrated flavours of black cherry and plum. The well-integrated tannin structure is complemented by refreshing acidity and a dry, lingering finish.
KEN FORRESTER – THREE HALVES (RHONE BLEND) 2011
It is a blend that consists of Mourvedre, Grenache and Shiraz. Lovely nose with rich ripe berries, ripe plum and berry compote with some vanilla and cedar notes. Fruity with a lovely balance.
LA MOTTE – PIERNEEF SYRAH-VIOGNIER 2016
Intense and firm tannins are present, allowing the wine to age for 6 to 10 years from vintage. It has an abundance of flavours on the silky palate, including spice from the Syrah, and rose geranium perfume with mulberry on the nose. This wine is medium-bodied.
IONA – SOLACE SYRAH 2015
Aromas of black cherries and a hint of rosemary. On palate it is succulent with a deep core of fruit and good acidity to balance. Elegance in a glass.
BELLINGHAM – BERNARD SERIES SMV (RHONE BLEND) 2015
This is a blend that consists of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Viognier. It has rich aromatics and bold flavours. A perfumed bouquet unravels slowly to reveal delicate violet and winter spice aromas, a fragrant introduction that set the tone for the black berry fruit flavours that dominate the palate.
BEESLAAR – PINOTAGE 2016
This wine has an intense ruby red colour, with plum cake, red fruit, and dark chocolate aromas, offering savoury finish on the palate.
RIJK’S CELLAR – PINOTAGE-SYRAH 2014
Intense red fruit aromas of cherry, strawberry and cranberry cinnamon spice on the nose. These aromas carry through onto a rich, creamy lingering palate. Silky well integrated and elegant tannins shows the perfect harmony and balance.
TOKARA – DIRECTORS RESERVE (BORDEAUX BLEND) 2014
Notes of dark cherries. There is a slight herbal and freshness to the nose. Delicious wine with great structure.
RUPERT & ROTHSCHILD – BARON EDMOND (BORDEAUX BLEND) 2014
Aromas of blackberries and blueberries with a note of fresh coriander. Layers of complexity unfolds on the palate with silky tannins. Well balanced, beautifully structured with hints of chocolate.
REMHOOGTE – SIR THOMAS CULLINAN (BORDEAUX BLEND) 2014
The mouthfeel is opulent and ample in this full-bodied wine, with flavours of dark berry fruit and chocolate truffle on the palate. Tannins are well incorporated with satisfying finish.
CONTACT DETAILS:
STRAND STREET, CAPE TOWN CBD
Head Office and Web Store
Ground floor, Matador Centre
62 Strand Street
Cape Town
South Africa
+27 21 419 8984
carowine@mweb.co.za
TOKAI ROAD, TOKAI, CAPE TOWN
Forest Glade House
Tokai Road
Tokai
Cape Town
South Africa
+27 21 712 2258
carowine3@mweb.co.za
Categories: Event
