2016 Whalehaven Winery Cabernet Franc from South Africa – A Double Winner!
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Whalehaven Winery was both the Professional Judges and the People’s Choice Judges winner as Best of Show at the 5th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition in the “International Division”. The International Division was for wines outside of the USA. Of the eight categories, this is one of three where both sets of judges selected the same Best of Show! This was for their 2016 vintage.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo from Whalehaven Winery website
Their slogan is “Wine is sunlight, held together by water”, a quote for Galileo Galilei. I have not visited the winery but this boutique winery is located near the protected bay in Hermanus, South Africa where the waters are for breeding Southern Right whales.
The winery has been owned by the Bottega Family since 2003. The winemaker is Reino Thiart providing an array of quality wines. Currently producing the following white wines of Viognier, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. On the reds, besides Cabernet Franc, he is producing Pinot Noir, Merlot, Pinotage and a Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Photo from Whalehaven Winery website
Thought this interesting from the Whalehaven Winery website and passing it along verbatim: “The Hemel-En-Aarde region. In May 2004, the Walker Bay Wine Ward was reclassified as a Wine District – one of 21 in the South African winelands. Given its size and the greater number of wine producers active in the area with a multitude of different wine style, Walker Bay was increasingly unable to justify Ward Status. A Wine Ward is the smallest unit of appellation after an individual wine estate and is supposed to delimit an area of relatively homogeneous terrior. The way was now open for producers in the District to create their own more relevant wine awards with the assistance of a committee of soil specialists and viticulturists. Within the Hemel-en-Aarde region, three wards were created: the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Each appellation has its own signature character and personality”.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a deep dark brick red in coloring and medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, bell pepper (pyrazines) greet the olfactory senses. On the palate, tobacco and a dusty minerality (similar to the famous Napa Rutherford dust) combine with tart cranberries and ripe red cherries filling the mouth. On the finish this dry and acidic Cabernet Franc has bold tannins claiming rightful attention of the imbiber. The wine has a 14% alcohol level. The price is R225 or roughly $12.25 in South Africa. Figure roughly between 3 to 4 times that price here in the USA for export taxes, importation taxes, transportation and distribution.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On this warm summer day, nothing goes quite so well as a BBQ’ed burger. When our friends/neighbors provided some homegrown vegetables, Jalapeño and Poblano peppers they were also roasted on the BBQ. Add some fresh Better Boy tomatoes, a slices of purple onion and the meal was just about complete. A cold pasta salad was served comprised of two different pasta noodles, ripe bell pepper (also from the neighbors garden), black olives, diced white onions, green onions, diced Jalapeno & Poblano peppers, peas, cubed extra sharp cheddar cheese and thousand island dressing. A tasty and zestful meal complimented by this award winning wine made an excellent summer food and wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael