Stellenbosch, South Africa
A tasting with lunch at Terroir
It was my fifth day in country touring South Africa, and my
second day dedicated to wine tasting, first in Constantia
and now Stellenbosch. In Constantia, I did a self-driving
tour as I went from vineyard to vineyard, and by the end of the day did not
feel like doing anymore driving, so when it came to Stellenbosch, I got smart
and hired a wine guide. For two main reasons, the guide would drive, a guide
could get me into more wineries, and I could learn more about the region by
discussing it with an expert. I hired Stephen Flesch owner of Gourmet Wine Tours of South Africa. I discovered Stephen after reading a
book on South African tourism in the wine section and saw that he had been
recommended in the book by Frommer’s. Therefore, for R 1,900.00 per person
for a build your own style tour, Stephen picked me up in Cape Town and we were
off, and the next Stellenbosch winery tasting was at Kleine Zalze Vineyard. 
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Wine
Dine and Play’s ratings for wine:
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96 – 100
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Extraordinary
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90 – 95
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Outstanding
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80 – 89
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above average
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70 – 79
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below average
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60 – 69
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poor/appalling/ “Cac”
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Review basics:
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Wine, Dine, & Play’s Rating
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82/100
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Family
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - 5 Stars
Family
Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012 – 5 stars
4
star ratings for 10 years previous
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Wines Produced
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot
Noir, Shiraz, Red Blend, Gamay, & Pinotage
White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, & Chenin Blanc
Dessert: Vin Santo, Moscato, Port, Madeira, & Sauternes
Other: Olive oil
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Grape Blends
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
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Current Vintage for 2014
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Reds: 2008, 2010, 2011, & 2012
Whites: 2012, & 2013
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Region Map
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Stellenbosch
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Regulatory
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ABV %
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13.5 -15%
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Barrel Types
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New/old French or American Oak, and cast iron. (40% first
fill, 30% second fill and 30 % third fill)
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Barrel Aging
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7 to 22 months
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South African wine
Quality Standards:
Unlike some European
countries, South Africa does not have any requirements for the process of
making wines in a particular region—for instance, allowing only certain
trellising methods or varietals. However, there are certain quality
requirements. For a wine to be labeled
as a particular varietal or as coming from a particular region, estate, or
vineyard, it must also not display any “unacceptable quality characteristics,”
which means the wine may not be turbid, contain excess sediment or crystals,
have faulty/insufficient color, or display undesirable flavor characteristics.
Among the several characteristics listed as unacceptable, a wine may not be
overly tannic, thin or watery, or oxidized. For a wine to be labeled as coming
from a particular area, 100% of the grapes used to make the wine must have been
grown there, and producers may only label their wines using
officially-recognized geographic areas.
In addition to designating a particular geographic unit, region,
district, or ward, a producer may also designate the wine as coming from a
particular estate or may label it as a “single vineyard wine.” However, to do so the producer must first
register the area where the grapes were grown with the Wine and Spirit Board. Single-vineyard wines must have been made
from a single varietal that is produced in the area registered with the board,
and the area registered may be no larger than 6 hectares. Estate wines must be made entirely—including
bottling—in the registered area where the grapes were grown. Also, if a particular varietal—or “cultivar”
as the law defines it—is listed on the bottle, at least 85% of the grapes used
in making the wine must have been of that type. This same 85% rule applies to
designating a particular vintage year.
Cases Produced:
Per Year:
400,000
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Chenin Blanc 2013
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Chardonnay 2012
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Pinot Noir 2011
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Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
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Shiraz 2010
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Price chart:
$ - Under $50.00 USD
$$ - Over $50.00 USD
$$$ - Over $100.00 USD
$$$$ - Over $200.00 USD
$$$$$- Over $400.00 USD
Bottle prices:
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Wine Selction:
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Currency:
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Country:
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Price Chart :
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Chenin Blanc 2013 (750 ml)
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R70.00
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ZAR
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$6.40
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USD
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$
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£3.84
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GBP
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£
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€4.65
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EUR
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€
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¥39.14
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CNY
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¥
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Chardonnay 2012 (750 ml)
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R73.00
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ZAR
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$6.68
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USD
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$
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£4.00
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GBP
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£
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€4.85
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EUR
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€
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¥40.82
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CNY
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¥
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Pinot Noir 2011 (750 ml)
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R95.00
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ZAR
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$8.69
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USD
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$
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£5.21
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GBP
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£
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€6.32
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EUR
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€
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¥53.12
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CNY
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¥¥
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Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (750 ml)
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R100.00
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ZAR
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$9.14
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USD
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$
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£5.48
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GBP
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£
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€6.65
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EUR
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€
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¥55.92
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CNY
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¥¥
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Shiraz 2010 (750 ml)
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R100.00
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ZAR
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$9.14
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USD
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$
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£5.48
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GBP
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£
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€6.65
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EUR
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€
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¥55.92
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CNY
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¥¥
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Visit these sites to
get up to date currency rates:
Alternatively, visit:
Cost of wine tasting in USD (p/p):
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3 wine Flight:
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$1.50
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5 wine flight:
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$2.50
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Scroll down below to the main review to read the tasting notes
From vineyards home page:
Kleine Zalze wines are marked by classical structure and
complexity matched by a vibrant flavour intensity. Discernibly South African in style, they are
refreshing, beautifully balanced and well suited to food. They are made according to traditional methods,
with minimal cellar intervention but supported by modern equipment.
Each vineyard block is vinified independently to give the
winemaking team the building blocks to create wines that taste of place. Close attention is paid to cultivating grapes
of exceptional quality and each vineyard is assessed and managed individually
during the growth period. Extensive yield reduction is also done to produce the
best quality, fruit driven wines with outstanding character and maturation
potential.
The intensity of the 'New World' in its full fruit flavours,
combine with the elegance and structure of the 'Old World', yielding wines of
character, complexity, and balance, reflecting our given terroir and climate.
This refined approach to viticulture and winemaking, together with the
attention to detail and the personal touch that goes with being a family-owned
estate, contribute to the ongoing success of Kleine Zalze’s wines.
Main review:
Stephen Flesch of GourmetWine Tours of South Africa had picked me up in Cape Town, and we
were now about to visit the forth winery of the day and have lunch at Terroir,
which was on the same property of Klein Zalze. We had already done tastings at Meerlust Winery, Ken Forrester, and De Trafford Winery, which also produces Sijnn Wines. As part of the tasting, I was given six wines listed
below under the tasting notes with the Chenin Blanc and Shiraz being my
favorites of the tasting. We then sat down for a lunch at Terroir, which was adjacent to the tasting room, and enjoyed
a three-course meal, where I ordered a full glass each of the Shiraz and Chenin
Blanc.
Now because I was part of a tour, the tastings were included
in the overall price for each winery that day. As an American visiting South
Africa, the tastings in both Constantia and Stellenbosch were an experience
within themselves, much different to the tastings in Napa and Sonoma,
California. Most tastings in California, Washington State, New York, and Oregon
starts at $25.00-$40.00, so when I found out the cost for the tastings in South
Africa I was shocked. The average is $3.00-$6.00, Kleine Zalze being $2.50 (ZAR25.00)
This or these wines remind me
of:
The Chenin Blanc was nice, as was the Shiraz. The Shiraz did
reminded me of the same quality from the Steenberg Vineyards, in Constantia, and the Blanc reminded me of Vinum Cellars White
Elephant 2012, a Napa California winery. The rest of the wines did not really
enthuse me all that much hence the lower rating in the 80’s compared to other
wineries in Stellenbosch that rated much higher, but then that is personal
opinion.
Bouquet
& Palette:
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Wine & Grape:
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Nose:
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Palette Experience:
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On the nose, there are concentrated aromas of tropical,
peach and litchi fruit with hints of botrytis and well-balanced French oak
wood flavors.
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Ripe layers of tropical fruit, both combined with subtle
wood give this wine a good length of fruit and creamy mouth feel, with an
elegant acidity in the background. Enjoy now or mature for 3 – 5 years.
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An elegant, smooth, well-balanced wine with fine citrus,
pear and ripe apple flavors.
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The strong complex flavors on the palate were carefully
blended with the lime, mineral Robertson wine thus giving a wine with a good
balanced structure.
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The wine shows a bright red color with an intense deep
berry tint.
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Strong cherry, herbal aromas with chalky dry tannins on
the palate. The wood adds a good,
soft, clean complexity with the spicy fruit well integrated. The wine shows an elegant, silky length
with a medium full structure.
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The wine shows rich dark berry, plum and spicy aromas with
well-integrated French oak tannin.
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On the palate, the flavors are well integrated with firm
ripe tannins, providing the wine with a medium-full velvety texture. Medium full-bodied wines that can be enjoy
now or keep for up to eight years.
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This wine has a deep ruby-red color with a prominent
blackcurrant, berry and spicy fruit aromas on the nose.
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On the palate, the wine shows hints of richness with
black- and mulberry flavors and is well integrated with the oak tannins to
give the wine a bold, lingering aftertaste. The wood is well integrated and
gives the wine a soft, slightly smoky finish.
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Château or Vineyard Owner:
Kobus Basson
Winemaker:
Johan Joubert and RJ Botha
Viticulturist:
Henning Retief
Tasting room address:
Strand Rd
Stellenbosch 7600
South Africa
Cross streets:
Caledon & Tegno Road
Contact Information:
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Tasting room:
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+27 (21) 880 0740
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Fax:
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+27 (21) 880 0716
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Winery:
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+27 (21) 880 0717
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Website:
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Email:
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Hours of tastings:
Monday to Saturdays:
09:00 - 18:00
Sundays:
11:00 - 18:00
S. African Standard Time (GMT +2:00)
Review by:
Chef Sean Overpeck (CFE) w/ General Malory 2011
Chef Sean cooks for soldiers in Afghanistan, 2012:
“I like cooking with wine;
sometimes I even add it to the food.”
