Wine Dine and Play: Kleine Zalze

Kleine Zalze



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

http://www.gourmetwinetours.co.za/


Trending wines:
Kamen Estates,Sonoma         
Napa Wine Company             
World’s Top 100 Restaurants:
Alinea, Chicago                      

Follow Wine, dine, and Play:
https://www.facebook.com/WineDineAndPlayhttp://www.pinterest.com/winedineandplay/boards/https://twitter.com/WineDinePlayhttps://plus.google.com/101959252647459500827/postshttp://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1ovEUh/winedineandplay.blogspot.com/  http://www.tumblr.com/blog/winedineandplaybloghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/114404072@N02/http://digg.com/submithttp://instagram.com/winedineandplay#

Wine Dine and Play’s ratings for wine:
96 – 100
Extraordinary  
90 – 95
Outstanding 
80 – 89
above average    
70 – 79
below average                         
60 – 69
poor/appalling/ “Cac”
Review basics:
Wine, Dine, & Play’s Rating
82/100
Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - 5 Stars                                                
Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012 – 5 stars
4 star ratings for 10 years previous                                                  
Wines Produced
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

Grape Blends
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Current Vintage for 2014
Reds: 2008, 2010, 2011, & 2012
Whites: 2012, & 2013
Region Map

Stellenbosch
 
Regulatory
ABV %
13.5 -15%
Barrel Types
New/old French or American Oak, and cast iron. (40% first fill, 30% second fill and 30 % third fill)
Barrel Aging
7 to 22 months

                       
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                                                                            
Chenin Blanc 2013

Chardonnay 2012

Pinot Noir 2011

Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Shiraz 2010

                       
Price chart:
$ -                    Under $50.00 USD
$$ -                  Over   $50.00 USD
$$$ -                Over $100.00 USD
$$$$ -              Over $200.00 USD
$$$$$-             Over $400.00 USD
Bottle prices:

Wine Selction:
Currency:
Country:
Price Chart :
Chenin Blanc 2013 (750 ml)



R70.00
ZAR

$6.40
USD
$
£3.84
GBP
£
€4.65
EUR
¥39.14
CNY 
¥
Chardonnay 2012 (750 ml) 



R73.00
ZAR

$6.68
USD
$
£4.00
GBP
£
€4.85
EUR
¥40.82
CNY 
¥
Pinot Noir 2011 (750 ml)



R95.00
ZAR

$8.69
USD
$
£5.21
GBP
£
€6.32
EUR
¥53.12
CNY 
¥¥
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (750 ml)



R100.00
ZAR

$9.14
USD
$
£5.48
GBP
£
€6.65
EUR
¥55.92
CNY 
¥¥
Shiraz 2010 (750 ml)



R100.00
ZAR

$9.14
USD
$
£5.48
GBP
£
€6.65
EUR
¥55.92
CNY 
¥¥

Visit these sites to get up to date currency rates:

 www.xe.com
Alternatively, visit:



Cost of wine tasting in USD (p/p):
3 wine Flight:
$1.50
5 wine flight:
$2.50

                                                                       
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:

Wine & Grape:
Nose:
Palette Experience:
On the nose, there are concentrated aromas of tropical, peach and litchi fruit with hints of botrytis and well-balanced French oak wood flavors.
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.
An elegant, smooth, well-balanced wine with fine citrus, pear and ripe apple flavors.
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. 
The wine shows a bright red color with an intense deep berry tint. 
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.  
The wine shows rich dark berry, plum and spicy aromas with well-integrated French oak tannin.
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.
This wine has a deep ruby-red color with a prominent blackcurrant, berry and spicy fruit aromas on the nose.
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.

                                                                                               
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Kobus Basson

Winemaker:
Johan Joubert and RJ Botha

Viticulturist:
Henning Retief

Tasting room address:          
Strand Rd
Stellenbosch 7600
South Africa
 http://goo.gl/maps/qrYU9

Cross streets:
Caledon & Tegno Road

Contact Information:

Tasting room:
+27 (21) 880 0740
Fax:
+27 (21) 880 0716
Winery:
+27 (21) 880 0717
Website:
Email:
Facebook Link               
https://www.facebook.com/kleinezalzeofficial
https://twitter.com/kleine_zalze

Hours of tastings:
Monday to Saturdays:
09:00 - 18:00
Sundays:
11:00 - 18:00
S. African Standard Time (GMT +2:00)




 https://www.facebook.com/WineDineAndPlay



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.”
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

You may also like:

View my food journey on Zomato!

Popular Posts: