Wine Cellar

RIESLINGS AROUND THE WORLD – R175
Cape Town March 7   
Joburg March 6

Has the Riesling revival finally happened? We pip the top local examples against the new 2010 Willi Schaefers, Timbach’s top cuvees and some fine Australian and New Zealand examples. Highlights will be Trimbach Clos St Hune, Felton Road, Schaefer’s Graacher Himmelreich Auslese and Howard Booysen's Riesling!

SOUTHERN FRANCE vs SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTERPARTS – R175
Cape Town March 14
Joburg March 13       

Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsaut, Clairette are all at home in the South of France and Southern Rhone. But what about SA? We taste all the major appellations against the top local examples to see where we fit. Highlights will be wines from Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-pape as well as top locals such as Columella and Mullineux.

BURGUNDY 2009 - R250
Cape Town March 28
Joburg April 3 

In riper vintages such as 2009 there is terrific value to be found in Burgundy. We taste all the important villages in the Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune comparing ‘lesser’ villages to benchmark ones. Master of Wine Richard Kershaw will be our guest at the Cape Town tasting. Highlights will include a Liger-Belair Vosne Romanee, Gevrey Chambertin from Boillot and Puligny Montrachet from Drouhin.

BORDEAUX 2008 - INTRO TO THE MAJOR APPELLATIONS – R250
Cape Town April 11
Joburg April 17 

What makes Bordeaux the most important wine region on earth? We take a tour through the major appellations with benchmark wines from the classic 2008 vintage; from Pomerol and St Emilion on the right bank to St Estephe in the northern Medoc and a Sauternes to finish off. Highlights will include Smith Haut Lafitte, d’Issan and St Pierre.

ITALY: TENUTA DELLA TERRE NERE & GIOVANNI CORINO – R175
Cape Town April 25
Joburg April 24

The new vintage of our hottest wines from the slopes of Mount Etna are here! From the Rosso and Rosato at R120 we taste through the single vineyards to finally the 140 year-old pre-phylloxera vineyard, Don Peppiano! These are a unique style, described often between a fine Barolo and fine Burgundy. We also taste the new vintages of Giovanni Corino; Barolo, Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barbera and Nebbiolo.

LA BASCULA, SPANISH VALUES FROM BRUCE JACK - R100
Cape Town May 2
Joburg May 8

You may not know that Bruce Jack has been making Spanish wines for a number of years now, and they offer great value too. Old vines and interesting regions combined with new world winemaking makes for fabulous, stylish wines. The Charge, Turret Fields and the Gauntlet are just a few in the range from the regions of Terra Alta, Rioja and Jumilla!

www.labascula.net.

Last year we had a full house of tasters excited to hear what the ‘Young Guns’ had to say and taste their often wacky wines. We have a few of the same winemakers back showing their own-label wines, as well as a new group of talented young guns. Once again we will have no boundaries and the evening will be musical and fun! 100% stems, no S02 addition, carbonic maceration, extremely early picking and 12 months skin contact are some of the techniques used when pushing the boundaries in winemaking.

25 YEARS OF DOMAINE GASTON HUET: 1986-2010
R350
1 November CWA & 2 November WC 2011

We explore the three vineyards of this most famous Vouvray producer; Le Mont, Le Haut Lieu and Clos du Bourg. Made in styles from steely ‘Sec’ to unctuously sweet ‘Moelleux 1er Trie’ we will taste across great vintages such as 2005, 2002, 1990 and 1988. A fabulous view of arguably the world’s greatest Chenin Blanc and one of the world’s most famous wines!      SEE ALL WINES HERE

BORDEAUX 2008 REVIEW
R350
8 November CWA & 9 November WC 2011

 An inclement and cool summer lead to early cries of a wash-out vintage. But a wonderfully dry July and prolonged fine weather from mid September until mid-October produced a low-yielding classic vintage. 'Exceptionally dark opaque colours, gorgeously ripe fruit, stunning purity almost across the board, great freshness (because it was a cool year), slightly higher acids than normal, and remarkable density as well as concentration' wrote Robert Parker on his vintage report. We taste top end whites, reds and sweets with Grand Puy Lacoste, Figeac, Lagrange, Clos Fourtet, Le Carre certain highlights. ALL THE WINES HERE

DOMAINE CLAPE DINNER
R595
16 November 2011 - Cape Grace - Cape Town - 18:45

Unquestionably the finest producer in Cornas and one of the finest in the Northern Rhone. Classic winemaking with zero new oak from very old vines give rise to tensioned, long-aging and engaging wines. Taste 2001, 2008 and 2009 of the Cornas and Renaissance with Olivier Clape over Dinner. The 2009s will be served with a 2-course meal. 

NEW WAVE SPAIN
R350
22 November CWA and 23 November WC 2011

We taste the new vintages from one of Spain's top producers Sierra Cantabria. From entry-level Rioja to the top end Finca El Bosqe (WA 97), traditional and modern styles will be tasted. Teso La Monja, from Toro, is the sister project to Numanthia and now makes some of the regions top wines from old vine Tinta de Toro. Then from Priorat we taste the new vintages of Costers del Siurana, one of the regions more classic producers. Finally, we show the new vintages of Terror Al Limit, up to the top Les Manyes vineyard which only produces a few hundred bottles. We hope to have Eben guide us through the Cape Town tasting! WINES

YOUNG GUNS PUSHING THE ABSOLUTE BOUNDARIES - R50
22 June 2011 WC
Craig Sheard’s ‘Elemental Bob - The Reject’ (a 100% Pinotage) was denied certification by SAWIS for not portraying varietal character! Congratulations some might say. Craig Hawkins’ Testalonga El Bandito Chenin Blanc was similarly rejected. But do we really need a textbook to make wine? Must all wines fit neatly into little boxes?
100% stems, no S02 addition, carbonic maceration, extremely early picking and 12 months skin contact are some of the techniques used by these 6 young winemakers who are more than pushing the boundaries in winemaking.
A fun evening of music, interaction and tasting with future stars: Howard Booysen, Craig Hawkins (Lammershoek, Testalonga), Bryan McRobert (Tobias), Craig Sheard (Spookfontein, Elemental Bob), Peter-Alan Finlayson (Crystallum) and Jurgen Gouws (Intellego)

WHITE BURGUNDY 2009 - R300
13 July WC & 19 July CWA

We taste the first releases of this highly anticipated vintage. Excellent weather conditions allowed full ripeness in a fresh, yet round style. We taste all around Burgundy and also introduce our new superstar Domaine - Henri Boillot from Puligny Montrachet. We show amongst others his Corton Charlemagne, famous Puligny Mouchere and Meursault Genevrieres. As well as selected wines from Domaine Ambriose, Jayer Gilles and a Chassagne from Ramonet!

RED BURGUNDY 2009 - R350
20 July WC & 26 July CWA

The 2009 red burgundies are even more exciting than the whites! Charming in their youth, they are opulent and structured with the top wines being able to age beautifully. From the Jancis Wine-of-the-week Hudelot Noellat Bourgogne to the Gros Echezeaux, we will cover most of Burgundy and its villages. Producers to be highlighted will be Gros Frere Soeur, Hudelot Noellat, Geantet Pansiot, Jayer Gilles, Ch de Chamirey and Domaine Ambroise!

NORTHERN RHONE 2009 - R275
3 August WC & 16 August CWA

2009 is regarded by some producers as the greatest vintage in living memory where a long dry summer lead to near perfect ripening conditions. The 2009 northern Rhônes are absolutely exquisite with ripe fruit, character and sublime freshness. And from the entry level Crozes-Hermitage one can also expect exceptional value for money. We will taste all the important appellations including Condrieu and Cornas from the likes of Cuilleron, Chapoutier, Perret and Chateau Curson. Not to be missed.

2001 BORDEAUX vs. 2001 SA BORDEAUX BLENDS - R300
10 August WC & 30 August CWA

A 10 year review of some the best 2001 Bordeaux versus the best of SA’s Bordeaux blends. We judge this classic vintage in Bordeaux versus the very good SA vintage, tasted blind! Wines included will be  Pichon Lalande, Troplong Mondot and La Tour Haut Brion against Paul Sauer, Vergelegen and Morgenster to name a few.

ANGELO GAJA & SILVIO NARDI - R400
17 August WC & 6 September CWA

We focus on Tuscany and taste the full range of Tenute Silvo Nardi of Brunello di Monalcino with the fabulous 2006s. Then from Angelo Gaja’s Tuscan estate with taste the Super Tuscan blends of Ca’Maracanda and two high profile Brunellos from Gaja’s Pieve Santa Restituta in Montalcino.  From Piedmont we taste Gaja’s benchmark Barbaresco and the Piedmont blend, Sito Moresco. Finally we end off with some of the most prized wines in Italy, the Gaja top end single vineyard offerings of Sperss and Costa Russi!

BENCHMARK RHONE - R200
CWA 17 February & WC 16 February

A journey through the fine wine region of the Rhône Valley. We visit all the major villages in the north and south, tasting wines from Chapoutier, Cuilleron, Domaine Grand Veneur and Perret. New to the cellar are the wines from the villages of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Rasteau and Vaqueryas from Domaine Grand Veneur as well as 2007 delights from Yves Cuilleron. This is sure to be an informative and fun whilst enjoying some of the world's benchmark wines which often provide phenomenal value.

LUXURY RHONE - R1950
Auslese 18 February

In contrast to the Benchmark tasting, only 13 tasters will experience the best the Northern Rhône has to offer from great vintages in the 90s. L'Ermite and Le Oree from Chapoutier, La Mouline, La Turque and La Landonne from Guigal, Chave Hermitage and Rostaing's La Landonne will be included in the rare line-up. A three course meal paired with mature Northern Rhônes will complete a syrah-lover's dream. Likely to sell-out quick!

VOLCANO WINES AND BENCHMARK ITALY - R200
CWA 24 February & WC 2 March

We are elated to offer the follow up vintage of fabulous Terre Nerre, grown on the slopes of Mount Etna. The 2007s were sold out before even offering them and the 2008s, from ancient vines on volcanic ash, are touted as their best vintage yet. We also taste benchmark offerings from our producers in Tuscany and Piedmont.

CLASSIC RIOJA AND BENCHMARK SPAIN - R200
WC 9 March & CWA 10 March

We introduce one of Rioja's most famous and classic producers, Lopez Heredia. All the latest vintages will be tasted including the Gran Riserva 1991 which spends 9 years in oak! We contrast these to modern Rioja from Sierra Cantabria and take a tour through Priorat and Toro to complete the superb line-up.

BEAUJOLAIS 2009 AND NEW BURGUNDY 2008s - R200
WC 16 March & CWA 24 March

What's been named the best vintage in Beaujolais ever, we taste the 2009s from Burgaud and Drouhin highlighted by the Morgon Cote de Py which receives 94 points in the Wine Advocate. All to prove that Beaujolais can be a long-lived fine wine in a great vintage. We also taste new 2008s from massively sought-after Ghislaine Barthod and Joseph Drouhin, including the Grand Cru Bonne Mares. An educational and enjoyable tasting.
 

1990 CHAMPAGNE - R2500
AUSLESE 18 March

One of the great chanpagne vintages of the century - Tom Stevenson - and a vintage that is now reaching maturity. We taste 9 champagnes between 13 tasters along with a 3 course meal prepared by Harald Bresselschmidt. This will be a rare line-up of some the great names including; Salon, Winston Churchill, Comtes de Champagne, Grand Sciele, Celebris and Ruinart.