46 TASTE SEPTEMBER 2019
TABLE TALK(^1) VillieraBrutNaturalBlanc
DeBlancNoSulphurAdded
MéthodeCapClassique 2014
TheGrierfamilyofVillierain
Stellenboschhasbeenmaking
MCCsparklingwinesfor 35 years
andhassuppliedWoolworths
sincetheretailer’swine
departmentopenedin1987.
FortheBrutNatural,noresidual
sugaris addedatbottlingand
nosulphurdioxideis addedin
thewinemaking.It’salsosuitable
forvegetariansandvegans.
Expectbubblesthatexplode
inthemouthwitha burstoftoast
andwhitefruits.R149.99
AllanMullinsraiseshisglasstoSAthismonthwiththesesixproudly
localwinesmadebysomeofthecountry’stopwinemakers
Simonsig’sFransMalanwas a
visionaryandhislegacy continues
withtwoofhissonsand three
grandchildrencurrentlyworking
onthefamilyfarminStellenbosch
helpingtoproducewines such
asthisground-breaking blend
oftwoofSA’sfavouritecultivars.
The70%CheninBlancprovides
melonandtropicalfruit flavours,
whilethePinotagebrings plum,
redberryandstructure. R69.99
4 LaMotteMerlot 2017
LaMotteis ownedbyHanneli
Rupert-Koegelenberg,formerly
aninternationallyacclaimed
(^2) KenForrester
CheninBlanc 2018
KenForresterwasoneofthefirst
winemakerstorealisethatChenin
Blancwascapableofmaking
outstandingwines.Thisyearhe
celebrates 25 yearsofmaking
CheninBlancandis quicktopoint
outthatSouthAfricahas53%of
theworld’sCheninproduction.
Thislightlywood-maturedwine
charmswithflavoursofapricot,
peachandlime,complemented
byvanillawoodspice.R74.99
3 Simonsig Chenin
Blanc Pinotage 2018
The Taste case
mezzo-soprano. The wine
partnership between Woolies and
La Motte began in 1990 with the
red blend, Grand Rouge, closely
followed by this Merlot – both
are still bestsellers. The red fruited
nose of this 2017 vintage has
flavours of redcurrants, plums
and cherries, supported by an oak
spiciness. R89.99
(^5) Danie De Wet
Woolworths Signature
Series Chardonnay 2017
Danie de Wet fell in love with
Chardonnay while studying
wine in Germany in the 1960s
and his maiden release, the 1981,
immediately won an international
award. His family farm, De
Wetshof in the Robertson wine
region, has limestone and clay
soils ideal for the production of
top-quality Chards like this one.
It has strong citrus flavours and
a chalky minerality on the nose,
while the plush palate has an
enticing nuttiness. R149.99
(^6) Thelema Sutherland
Cool Climate Cabernet
Sauvignon 2017
Gyles Webb’s first wines from
Thelema Mountain Vineyards
were released in 1988 and sold
out soon after release. (The
Sauvignon Blanc was particularly
sought after and Gyles had to
turn down many begging
requests from “old friends”
and “VIPs”. But when the British
Embassy called and asked for
10 cases for the Queen’s visit,
he delivered them the next day.)
This Cab from the cool Elgin
region has ripe blackcurrant fruit,
hints of chocolate and a velvety
palate. R129.99
Allan Mullins has
been selecting
wines for Woolies
for almost 30
years. Find these
bottles in store or
order online at woolworths.co.za
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