What I Drank Last Night

From the October issue of GQ: As a figure of popular culture, special agent James Bond captures the imagination in many ways: he’s debonair of dress, good at one-liners, irresistible to women, handy with any sort of weaponry, gets to drive the coolest cars and, of course, always vanquishes the villain. For wine geeks, there [...]

Yesterday the launch of Brut Zero 2005, a new addition to the Graham Beck Méthode Cap Classique range and one of the few non-dosage bubblies in the country (not the first as I originally posted – see comments below). Cellar price: R205 a bottle. For those unfamiliar with the term, dosage involves the addition of [...]

On Saturday, Graham Beck cellarmaster Pieter Ferriera threw a surprise birthday party for his wife Ann, and since Ann and my wife Jane are cousins, I got to attend. To start, Graham Beck Brut Non-vintage from magnum with a choice between tomato and basil on crostini or salmon trout sashimi; for main course, suckling pig [...]

A selection of recently received Shiraz samples tasted sighted and scored according to the 20-point system: Graham Beck Chalk Board Series #4 Shiraz 2008 Wine of origin Paarl – 14% abv A well judged wine showing all the varietal character you could want. Red and black berries as well as vague smoky, meaty character on [...]

Yours truly turned 40 yesterday and here’s why he feels like 50 today: Klein Optenhorst Méthode Cap Classique Pinot Noir 2009, Jordan Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2009 and Kloof Street Swartland Rouge 2009 by Mullineux Family Wines. The bubbly from a 0.25ha vineyard on my parents-in-law’s Wellington property and made by Graham Beck’s Pieter Ferreira; [...]

The Weisser Riesling 1998 is apparently the only white wine (other than bubbly) that Graham Beck cellarmaster and Cape Winemakers Guild  member Pieter Ferreira has ever had on auction (the Guild previously known at the Cape Independent Winemakers Guild and the auction having run from 1985). Tasted blind, there was plenty of developed character but [...]

The Wellington Harvest Festival took place this past weekend and I spent it pouring the Klein Optenhorst Pinot Noir Cap Classique 2009, grapes from my parents-in-law’s property that they own  in the area and the wine made by Graham Beck’s Pieter Ferreira. When Chris and Andrea Mullineux of Swartland label Mullineux Family Wines paid a [...]

Dinner on Saturday night at Somerset West winery Waterkloof to celebrate our third wedding anniversary.  Ambiance at this ultra-modern restaurant with panoramic views: 10/10, food: 7/10 (my oxtail ravioli was wholesome and tasty, my tempura sole less successful, the batter ever so slightly soggy), service: 5/10 (somewhat erratic, the waiting team seemingly short-staffed). I started [...]

Graham Beck winemaker Erika Obermeyer seems as adept with Chenin Blanc as Sauvignon Blanc. Last year  her Pheasants’ Run Sauvignon Blanc 2010 achieved the notable double of placing among the winners of Wine magazine’s Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competition and rating 5 Stars in Platter’s 2011. Now the Graham Beck Bowed Head 2009 finishes among [...]

Salad Niçoise is the perfect lunchtime meal as the thermometer goes past 30°C and heads for 40°C but what to drink with it? During the holidays, I unearthed a bottle of Graham Beck The Ridge Shiraz 1997 from the depths of my father-in-law’s Wellington cellar, and it proved an excellent companion to the food: elegant [...]