Paul Wallace Wines – Elegantly Elgin

The wine route offers scenic drives through Elgin’s picturesque Overberg valley. Expect a warm embrace from this hospitality and friendly community where you can enjoy intimate wine tastings whilst taking in spectacular vistas over vineyards and valleys.

Every wine farm in the Elgin Valley is family owned. Visitors are often treated to wine tastings conducted by the owner or wine maker themselves making this wine route a true gem.

Surrounded by vineyards and the beauty of the Elgin Valley, Paul Wallace Wines is simply a little piece of paradise.

It has long been Paul’s belief that the cool-climate region of Elgin, previously best known for its apples and pears, is one of the most exciting developing wine regions within the South African wine industry and indeed internationally.

He is a viticultural consultant and they bought the farm in 2003. The farm then had orchards of Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apple trees which were replaced by plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec and Pinot Noir, changing the face of the farm entirely.

We were very fortunate to stay on the farm for the #ElginCoolFest in one of the cottages. Nothing beats the magnificent view of the beautiful valley and hills of the farm. Pure bliss and tranquility. Surrounded by vineyards, natural dams with abundant bird life and unparalleled sunsets, Wallovale Vineyards, the Home of Paul Wallace Wines, is a little piece of paradise.

COTTAGES

Paul Wallace have two guest cottages available to rent out on a self-catering basis.

Each cottage consists of two bedrooms – one with a queen size bed and the other room with a king size bed. It has a shared bathroom with a shower, toilet and hand basin. The open plan kitchenette is fully equipped as well as an built-in outside braai. The lounge is nice and cosy with a full package DSTV and free WI-Fi is available.

WINES

An added bonus was added to the warm hospitality when Paul and Nicky invited us for a private tasting at their house on the patio overlooking the dam and vineyards. All the wines were paired with delicious Belgian chocolates.

LITTLE FLIRT – SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018

Bright and appealing with prominent golden delicious apple, gooseberry, pear and kiwi fruit on the nose. An explosion of fruit on the palate reveals a medley of tropical fruits, fennel and some grapefruit coupled with a prominent mineral core. The full mouthfeel captures the purity of Elgin’s fruit, resulting in a fresh well-balanced wine with good length. Delightful while young but is expected to show her pedigree and mature with stylish grace and aplomb with further time in the bottle.

The 2018 Paul Wallace Little Flirt Sauvignon Blanc is their sixth vintage. As the name suggests she is little charmer and somewhat flirtatious. Guaranteed to charm and captivate, she will pair beautifully with Pear Oil White Belgian Chocolate bringing out the tropical flavours in the wine. She will certainly enhance your meal and even if sipped as an aperitif will flirt with your senses.

REFLECTION – CHARDONNAY 2018

The Reflection Chardonnay leads with prominent notes of lemons and limes with a touch of fennel on the nose. A fruit-forward entry onto the palate where citrus notes and a delicate oaky sweetness, combined with an underlying minerality produce a wine with good breadth, length and mouthfeel.

This Chardonnay reflects purity of fruit, a natural elegance and texture prevalent in Chardonnays from the Elgin Valley. This wine served chilled was paired brilliantly with White Belgian Chocolate with Lemon Rind and Poppy Seed.

BRAVE HEART – PINOT NOIR 2017

The Brave Heart Pinot Noir proudly introduces itself with a bright ruby colour ready to entice your tastebuds. A vivid flourish of raspberry, cranberry and red cherry aromas with discreet roast nuts on the nose makes way to a delicate entry, blossoming in poised concentration of wild berry fruit flavours and oak spice gaining complexity and richness through to a long, finely textured finish.

The 2017 Paul Wallace Brave Heart Pinot Noir is their fifth Vintage. The name is a tribute to William Wallace, a man of great principle and heart, who they would like to believe is one of their ancestors. It is also a play on the Pinot Noir cultivar’s nickname – the Heart Break grape. This Pinot Noir was paired with two chocolates. One a Dark Belgian Chocolate with Cherry and Cranberry and the other one a White Belgian Chocolate with Orange, Almond and Cardomom. Is was very surprising how excellent the orange went with the Pinot Noir and was a winner!

CRACKERJACK 2016 (Blend)

The alluring bright colour immediately invites one to explore this wine further. Merlot driven and power packed with fresh fruits encompassing both the red and black fruit spectrums, with a savoury core. Rich and opulent, yet bright and feminine, this little “cracker” is the perfect example of how the whole sum is better than the parts and of how the individual components support and enhance one another. All in all it’s a Crackerjack of a wine.

This wine came about as an indulgence to the lady of the house, who is particularly partial to fine Bordeaux-styled blend. Together Paul and Nicky Wallace have put together a “cracker” of a wine, blending and showcasing the versatility of Elgin. The composition of the wine is 50% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec. This wine paired well with Dark Belgian Chocolate with Chilli.

BLACK DOG – MALBEC 2016

Much like the dog the wine is dark in colour, well-muscled intense and full of character. The Black Dog Malbec displays a deep velvet red core with some bright garnet on the rim. An intriguing somewhat exotic nose conjures up hints of blue berries, black berries, brambles, juicy red plums and savoury rhubarb. The entry onto the palate is a satisfying fruit-filled mouthful of both red and black fruits linked by a thread of spice and held together with silky tannins. The Black Dog Malbec is a truly memorable wine which reflects the natural elegance we have come to expect from Elgin wines.

The 2016 Paul Wallace Black Dog Malbec is the eighth vintage made from grapes produced on our own farm, Wallovale Vineyards. It is named after Paul’s beefy black shadow, our cross Labrador/Rottweiler, named Jake. The Malbec grape is also known as the Black Grape and it is this characteristic that has been incorporated into the name. Dark Salted Chocolate was paired with the Malbec.

THE NIX – NOBLE LATE HARVEST 2017

It flaunts layers of dense apricot and tangerine fruits, with a hint of almond and star anise and a drizzle of honey. An invigorating fruity acid adds backbone and structure to this maiden release of the Paul Wallace “The Nix” Noble Late Harvest.

Named after Paul’s wife, who is partial to a noble to round of a fine meal, this wine possesses both charm and backbone – two of Nix’s personal traits. This is made from Sauvignon Blanc. It is not

overly syrupy and sweet, The Nix offers a good acid balance and it paired well with the Lemon Poppy Seed White Chocolate.

Contact Details:

M.  +27 83 255 1884  /  +27 82 572 1406

E.   nicky@paulwallacewines.co.za

W.   paulwallacewines.co.za

 

Tasting Times

Saturdays from 10:30am – 5pm

Any other day by appointment

Categories: Chardonnay, Elgin Valley, Paul Wallace Wines, Pinot Noir, Region, Sauvignon BlancTags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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