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South Africa, Wineries & Restaurants |
CONSTANTIA UITSIG & LA COLOMBE
As one of the oldest wine estates in Constantia, Constantia Uitsig should be worth a visit in itself, however, what makes this place an indispensable stop-off is the >La Colombe restaurant - more of that later. Here is one of the better wine shops in the area with shelves of bottles surrounding the informal tasting area. We enquired if there was chance of lunch at La Colombe restaurant and our luck was in - you should definitely book to avoid disappointment.
We decided to take a 10 minute walk from the tasting area & shop, up to the restaurant through the vineyards, rather than drive. There is also an 'upmarket' hotel, and a cricket pitch with mountains and vines as a backdrop.
The restaurant ambience is first class, looking out upon a small pool area, the place (at least at lunchtime) seems very child friendly. This was the closest we came to paying ‘European’ prices for a meal, but this is a dining experience, which should not to be missed. The serving staff are all young, bright, helpful and knowledgeable.
We took a Constantia Uitsig Sauvignon Blanc for our starters, then afterwards the Hamilton-Russell 2000 pinot noir. The SB is a very aromatic version with a strong ‘green themed’ nose – grass, nettles etc. Nice acidity and reasonably long – a lovely aperitif. The Hamilton-Russell wine has beautiful aromatics with strong blueberry and red cherry notes. The palate is medium bodied with good acidity and quite mild tannins. Perhaps a little hole in the mid-palate but nicely long, worth it though just for the nose - perhaps a reasonable village Burgundy level here. My (Springbok) venison was beautifully presented and equally beautiful tasting.
So including a 395 Rand bottle of wine, the bill without a tip came to 812 Rand, or €80 for 2 wines, starters, mains, deserts and coffees. This is a place that could be worthy of a Michelin star. Quite simply you have to go !
LA COLOMBE RESTAURANT
Spaanschemat River Road
Constantia
tel. +27 21 794 2390
email La Colombe
VERGELEGEN
The Vergelegen estate dates back to 1700 but what you see today is mainly thanks to Sir Lionel and Lady Florence Phillips, from 1917 onwards. The estate is now owned by Anglo-American Farms, who have obviously made a very serious investment. The old winery now houses the library of Sir Lionel Philips, the new winery is a space-age affair, but unfortunately we were pressed for time so couldn't fit in the tour. I found it hard to get excited about the wines (the sauvignon blanc excepted) but the place is a ‘must visit’ on any tourist schedule. Sympathetically restored buildings, beautiful gardens and grounds, and the oldest officially recorded trees on the sub-continent – 5 Chinese camphor trees of around 300 years old.
The wines were not (to my taste) very interesting - all smokey oak, medium intesity and medium interest, though we did enjoy very much the current Sauvignon Blanc (see below). However, given the young age of the vines, the superb facilities, the market positioning of the wines by Anglo-American and the fact that for the future their aim is to produce only two wines, one red and one white, it would be fair to assume a long-term strategy of placing Vergelegen as a ‘first growth’ in South Africa - perhaps beyond that. There are three restaurants dotted around the grounds, we chose the Lady Phillips restaurant which you can readabout elswhere. Whether you love the wine or not, definitely worth a detour especially when you take account of the restaurant :
TASTING NOTES
2002 Vergelegen, Sauvignon Blanc
Very pale yellow. Mellow, slightly yeasty nose, understated. Lovely acidity with a pineapple palate. The palate is much more interesting than the nose, quite long too. A very good sauvignon.
2002 Vergelegen, Vin de Florence
Darker than previous wine, pale straw. This is a five grape blend of chardonnay, chenin, semillon, muscat and sauvignon blanc. Sweet nose has high tones, slightly 'soapy' with boiled sweets. Nice acidity with an off-dry palate. Medium length, quite good.
2001 Vergelegen, Mill Race
Medium-full ruby colour. Nose is a little smokey. Smokey palate too with good acidity, medium tannins and a hint of vanilla on the finish. Quite good.
1999 Vergelegen, Merlot
Medium-full ruby. Nose has a little smoke and a rubbery component. Good acidity with medium tannins. Medium intensity fruit from the black spectrum. Quite good.
1999 Vergelegen, Cabernet Sauvignon
A little darker than the previous two wines, with some purple at the edge. Again some smoke on the nose here plus blackcurrant. Obvious cabernet fruit on the palate. Good acidity and and medium tannins. Quite long too. Good.
LADY PHILLIPS RESTAURANT
We chose the Lady Philips restaurant, sitting outside for lunch, which is why we ended up with no time to visit the winery. Again we were lucky to get a seat for lunch, so booking is advised. As we had an evening appointment we decided discretion was the better part of valour so took only two entrées and a desert each(!) The food presentation and taste were really first class. Including two glasses of the estate Sauvignon Blanc we had a bill of 250 Rand for two. The service was not faultless, but with lovely views across the croquet lawn, I couldn’t possibly complain.
LADY PHILLIPS RESTAURANT
Lourensford Road
Somerset West
tel. +27 21 847 1346
email Lady Phillips
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