Franschhoek, South Africa
A beautiful Troika blend
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 GourmetWine 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 Chamonix Winery.
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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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96/100 on the Troika and Reserve Pinot Noir
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Pinot Noir Reserve John Platter 5 stars 2012
Troika John Platter 4½ stars 2012, John Platter 4
stars 2011
4-5 stars on all other wines
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Wines Produced
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Red:, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage,
Troika Pinot Noir, & Bordeaux Blends (aka Meritage)
White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, & Sparkling (Méthode
Cap Classique)
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Grape Blends
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdox & Cabernet Franc
White: Sauvignon blanc, & Sémillon
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Current Vintage for 2014
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Reds: 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012
Whites: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
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Region Map
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Stellenbosch, & Franschhoek
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Regulatory
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ABV %
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13.5 %, 14%
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Barrel Types
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30 - 50 % New French oak
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Barrel Aging
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16 to 24 months depending on the wine
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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:
Reserve Tasting:
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Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2009
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Chardonnay Reserve 2012
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Pinot noir Reserve 2012
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Greywacke Pinotage 2011
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Troika 2011
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Reserve White 2012
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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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Reserve White 2012 (750 ml)
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R145.00
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ZAR
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$13.26
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USD
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$
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£7.95
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GBP
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£
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€9.64
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EUR
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€
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¥81.08
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CNY
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¥¥
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Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2009 (750 ml)
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R145.00
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ZAR
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$13.26
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USD
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$
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£7.95
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GBP
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£
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€9.64
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EUR
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€
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¥81.08
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CNY
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¥¥
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Chardonnay Reserve 2012 (750 ml)
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R230.00
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ZAR
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$21.03
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USD
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$
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£12.60
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GBP
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£
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€15.29
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EUR
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€
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¥128.61
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CNY
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¥¥¥
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Pinot noir Reserve 2012 (750 ml)
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R250.00
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ZAR
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$22.86
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USD
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$
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£13.70
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GBP
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£
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€16.62
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EUR
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€
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¥139.80
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CNY
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¥¥¥
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Greywacke Pinotage 2011 (750 ml)
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R130.00
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ZAR
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$11.89
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USD
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$
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£7.12
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GBP
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£
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€8.64
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EUR
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€
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¥72.69
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CNY
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¥¥
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Troika 2011 (750 ml)
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R200.00
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ZAR
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$18.29
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USD
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$
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£10.96
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GBP
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£
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€13.30
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EUR
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€
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¥111.84
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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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Non Reserve Tasting:
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$3.00
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Reserve Tasting:
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$5.00
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Cellar Tour:
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$3.00
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Scroll down below to the main review to read the tasting notes
From vineyards home page:
Situated high above the fertile Franschhoek valley in the
heart of the Cape winelands, lies a wine farm like no other. Chamonix offers
visitors a seamless blend of unspoiled nature, welcoming hospitality, exquisite
facilities and a host of culinary and viticultural delights, set amongst a
working wine farm and water bottling plant with a history stretching back
nearly 350 years. Our spring water is bottled at source and renowned for its
pure, clean taste. Chamonix produces a diverse selection of award-winning wines
& spirits.
Main review:
Stephen Flesch of Gourmet Wine Tours of South Africa had picked me up in Cape Town, and we
had spent all day going from one winery to the next from Meerlust Winery, Ken Forrester, De Trafford Winery, which also produces Sijnn Wines,
Kleine Zalze Vineyards, and La Motte. We had left
Stellenbosch and entered into the Franschhoek Wine Region, on our last
stop before having dinner at The Tasting room at Le Quartier Français.
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| Courtesy of Cape Chamonix |
The Chamonix property near the heart of Franschhoek, with
lodges, Racine restaurant, and a
private game reserve with ostrich, zebra, eland, bontebok and springbok just to
name a few. The reserve is only open to those that stay at the lodges offered
on the property. They also offer private and exclusive venues for corporate functions
in the Lacq de Chamonix lodge near a lake higher up into the mountains. At the tasting room the six wines offered, none
listed in the chart below, was a bad wine, and my two personnel favorites were
the Reserve Pinot noir and the Troika blend. Besides wine, they also produce
their own natural spring still or sparkling water.
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| Courtesy of Cape Chamonix |
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, Chamonix being $3.00 (ZAR30.00)
This or these wines remind me
of:
The Reserve Pinot Noir was out of this world and reminded me
of Row11 Pinot Noir Santa Maria, from the Russian
River Valley, in Sonoma California. The Troika Blend was extremely smooth and
reminded me of “ThePoet” a blend from Cosentino Winery in Napa. I am glad that Knauth & Visser LLC in Branford, Connecticut offers Chamonix wine for me to
purchase locally in the USA. The best of the day was coming up next, after a wonderful day of wine tasting, it was time for dinner at the #53 Restaurant in the world at The Tasting room at Le Quartier Français.
Bouquet
& Palette:
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Wine & Grape:
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Nose:
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Palette Experience:
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Fresh aromas with scents of exotic spice, figs, grapefruit
and thyme. Sauvignon Blanc 88%
Semillon 12%
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On the palate, it is full and round with rich fruit
sensation and minerality balanced by bracing acidity. 30% new French oak, 3.5%
alcohol remains on the lees in oak for 11 months
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It has a bright straw yellow color with golden highlights
and exquisite aroma, with scents reminiscent of tropical fruit, ginger, spice
and oatmeal.
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Well structured, with flavors of lime and toasted almonds
on the palate. 13,5% alcohol,
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Notes of cherry, wild red berries, crushed black pepper,
cinnamon and violets on the nose 13.5% alcohol
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Although firm in structure and intense in flavor, textures
are mellow and round, expanding with time to extraordinary opulence and
length on the palate. It should reach its prime in about 5-8 years after
release.
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The bouquet is complex with scents recalling wild berries,
spice and cherries. 14% alcohol is matured for 2 years
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On the palate, the wine shows full body and rich dark
chocolate extract with fruit flavors balanced elegantly by tannins in a long
finish that reveals sweetness reminiscent of liquorice.
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Cabernet Franc 51%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 9%, The
Chamonix Troika (meaning: Russian sleigh pulled by three horses) has deep
ruby mulberry color when young, with scents that recall vanilla, sweet ripe
cherries, blackberries, cinnamon and other spices.
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The wine is amply structured, full, round and smooth on
the palate with rich fruit and berry sensations, fine harmony and length of flavor.
Although impressive young, it should reach a prime at 10-15 years. 14%
alcohol
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Sauvignon Blanc 60% Semillon 40% fresh aromas with scents
of exotic spice, figs, grapefruit and thyme.
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On the palate, it is full and round with rich fruit
sensation and minerality balanced by bracing acidity. 3.5% alcohol, with 50%
new French oak
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Château or Vineyard Owner:
Chris Hellinger
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| Courtesy of Cape Chamonix |
Winemaker:
Gottfried Mocke
Tasting room address:
Wine Estate – Chamonix
Uitkyk Street
Franschhoek
Breede River DC
Western Cape 7690
South Africa
Cross streets:
Lambrechts Road &Huguenot Road
GPS Co-Ordinates: S
33°54' 11.04" | E 19°7' 15.49"
Contact Information:
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Tasting room:
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+27 21 876 8426
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Fax:
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+27 21 876 3237
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Winery:
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+27 21 876 8400
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Website:
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Email:
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Monday - Sunday: 09:30 - 17:00
S. African Standard Time (GMT +2.00)
Review by:
Chef Sean Overpeck (CFE) in Franschhoek
Chef Sean cooks for soldiers in Afghanistan, 2012:
“I like cooking with wine;
sometimes I even add it to the food.”
