Southafrican Wine ... few notes

(Francesco) So, after speaking about food and after visiting a nice wine restaurant yesterday, it is time to share with you my experience on South African wines. I had a few and one from Zimbabwe. Generally the wines are cheaper with very few premium wines getting above 60 euros a bottle and normally also because of their age. I am starting writing while Elke is getting a shower, but I suspect I will finish and post when we are back from our visit at Tafelberg this morning. Let's not waste time and delve into it. Do not expect a scientific description .... just my impressions.

Castle Beer NV. Yes, I start from a beer and I even post a photo of it. It is cheap and wisely available and I like it. Light and refreshing ... if only Heineken would be like this one ....
Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc 2005. Nice and refreshing. It has a flowery and nose with a taste of green fruit and spices. It has an hint of acidity. Lovely wine. But not sure if it will age more. I would love to see its price in a shop. when it is below 10 euros, than it would definitively be a buy. Otherwise ... not sure.
Vriesenhof Pinot Noir 2004. This could be a burgundy wine. Nice body and nose. Light red fruit with bell pepper and slight spices. Very round and long aftertaste. I would give it a bit longer time in the bottle, but it has been my second favorite so far. I would have liked it slightly more complex.
Saronsberg Shiraz 2004. A nice and gentle shiraz. Fruity with some underlying american oak feeling. Good body. Nice to have with meat instead of a Chianti. I feel this is probably overrated a bit considering the price.
Graham Beck Brut. Nice sparkling. Very gentle and refreshing. Something in between a prosecco and a brut nature. Definitively a nice alternative to champagne ... if I would ever find it in europe. Of course, if the price is similar to champagne .... then, it is no comparison. Get the latter, it has more depth.
Graham Beck Rose'. Not bad. It has a nice and refreshing feeling with just a bit of more of the Pinot Noir over the Chardonnay. I would love to get this one in my cellar.
Villiera Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. We got this bottle as a present because of my help in translating few things in italian for some guests at Kirkman's lodge. Nice wine. On the fruity side with a well balanced oak which gives vanilla and spicy pepper.
Villiera Brut NV. We found this wine tin the room as a wedding present. Something of a in-between prosecco and spumante. Not bad but would not be my first choice.
Villiera rose' NV. Like the previous one we got it (in the same lodge) for our wedding as a free treat .... but this time it was during sunset in the bush! This one was lovely. A nice rose with red fruit and strawberry flavor. Refreshening but with some body to go along a light meat-based meat. Gently bubbly.
Weltevreden Pinot Noir 2005. Nice nice nice. This has it all, still young and on the fruity side but it has balance in the nose and the taste where fruity and oak create a nice complexity that lives very long in the aftertaste. It is a great example of a new world burgundy. I wonder if it can be found in europe.
Kanokoop Pinotage 2005. Nice but still too young wine. Very much fruity and heavy almost like a young vintage port. Looking forward to try one of these in few years time!
Doolhof Unwooded Chardonnay 2006. A simple chardonnay with medium body. Peach and little honey in the taste, peach and flower on the nose. Short aftertaste. I would not buy for my cellar, but to drink during a meal ... why not. It is also quite cheap.
Riverstone Sauvignon Blanc Brut NV. Another wine we got as a wedding present, this time in Cape Town. Refreshening and ok. A bit a traitor as the alcohol comes out later ... and it definitively does not last much once open. Decent bubbly for the price ... and not bad when free :-)