Wine column for Homefront Business Day 10 June

Simply red winter warmers
Winter is the season to explore the warm flavours of the Cape’s reds, writes Graham Howe

AS TEMPERATURES drop I always enjoy the time of the year when red wines come into their own to complement rich winter fare. I’ve tasted my way through a mixed case of exciting new blends from newer producers like Avondale, Shannon Vineyards and Oldenburg, as well as a few classics from old Stellenbosch favourites like Delheim, Muratie, Slaley, Villiera and Yonder Hill.

Variety is the spice of food and wine so I’ve included a few marvellous Merlots I’ve discovered along the way that are guaranteed to beat the winter blues.

BIG REDS
Yonder Hill Inanda 2007. When it comes to big red wines with staying power, Yonder Hill, a family wine farm on the Helderberg, is one of the Cape’s best-kept secrets.  Inanda 2007, a Bordeauxstyle blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot is a smorgasbord of chocolate, mocha, cassis, cherry and mulberry flavours on a mouth-filling palate, matured in oak for 20 months. Also try Yonder Hill Merlot 2007, a velvety wine with luscious blackberry, choc and mocha flavours.

■ Graham Howe is wine and food editor of Habitat.

YONDER HILL COMES TO THE FORE!

YONDER HILL comes to the fore with a new website designed by Daniel Naude, (son of Yonder Hill’s owner) together with Jan Solms and Rohan Etzebeth. Daniel Naude is an internationally acclaimed photographer and his artistic flare is evident on the website.

To coincide with the new domain another member of the Naude family was remembered and a premium red wine named Nicola has just been launched to celebrate her 25th birthday in 2008. This premium Bordeaux blend has been carefully nurtured by winemaker Bennie Avenant. Nicola 2008 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot that has been softly maturing in French oak for twenty months. Each bottle has been hand numbered and boasts a creative label by Anthony Lane and eye-catching wrapping by Holy Cow Designs making it a true collector’s item! “The launch of this four and half star John Platter wine would not have been possible without the team effort of all those at Yonder Hill”, says Bennie Avenant winemaker and viticulturist.

Visit www.yonderhill.co.za for more information.

2 Silvers at this years Old Mutual Trophy Awards

With only Hillcrest Quarry topping our Merlot 2008, we are proud to announce our newly released Merlot 2008 is rated as second best Merlot at the Old Mutual Trophy awards 2011. This Merlot is available at the Cellar for R120.00/btl.

The Vineyards are sixteen years old and planted on the northern slopes of the farm. The vines are trained onto a five-wire trellis system to maximise exposure to the sunlight and sea breeze. The use of minimal handling and insecticides shows our approach towards environ-friendly farming methods.

SOILS Deep fertile Oak leaf and Tukulu soil. The 20 to 30 cm of lime becomes a good mixture of sand to sand-lime-clay soil medium. It is then followed by 50 to 60 cm of wet zone, as a result of limited amounts of clay, with apparent granite origin.

The berries from the tiny 1.2ha vineyard, ripened in the early months of the year. Fermentation took place on the skins for twelve days, with five days post maceration after gentle pressing, malolactic was encouraged. This Merlot was then matured in 65%-new French Oak barrels for 20 months. Cellar for 7 years or drink now.
With a deep dark colour. Rich velvety texture with blackberries, cassis, eucalyptus and dark chocolates on the nose. This wine is build on a heavy but well rounded tannin structure, and is excellently well balanced.

ANALYSIS
Alcohol 14.56 %
Total acidity 5.7 g/l
pH 3.65
Residual sugar 3.70 g/l

BOTTLED 20/11/2009