The Wine Girl Wine Club Dinner Date Winter Wines
Introducing The Wine Girl Wine Club!
My promise to you is that every three months, I will curate a case of 6 trendy wines that we can sip together. The best part? I will be posting about these wines on Instagram so we can connect in the virtual space.
So join my wine club today, try these wines, and share your thoughts using the hashtag #WineGirlWineClub.
In this quarter’s wine pack, I have included the following wines:
La Motte Syrah 2019
Montpellier Spyseniersberg Red Blend 2021
Esc Wines RAZ 2023
Spier First Stone Organic Red 2021
Hazendal Chardonnay 2019
Roodekranz "Die Boskind” Bordeaux-styled Blend 2022
La Motte Syrah 2019
I discovered this latest vintage of Syrah from La Motte Estate in Franschhoek via a press drop only this year and was pleasantly surprised! It is notably, a time capsule! The grapes were picked before the COVID-19 pandemic, matured for double the amount of time than usual in French oak and bottled in November 2021. Therefore skipping the pandemic entirely - what a table talker! This wine stands elegantly with a royal blue, foil capsule sealing the cork and a clean, white label glimmering with gold detail.
Blackberry nuances intertwine with hints of cigar and coffee, while spice notes of nutmeg and aniseed add intrigue. The palate, marked by elegance and restraint, promises a lingering finish that leaves a lasting impression. An excellent dinner date wine!
2. Montpellier Spyseniersberg Red Blend 2021
Montpellier has always been a favourite winery of mine when visiting the quaint and historic town of Tulbagh. I first discovered this wine back in 2017 and it has become a staple in my wine cellar ever since. The label reminds me of an old-school, Dutch-style Delftware and looks so elegant on the table. It’s a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Merlot and 6.5% Cabernet Franc.
Enjoy velvety tannins with red fruit, plum and rose petals on the nose that follow through on the palate. Delicious with venison!
3. Esc Wines RAZ 2023
The new kid on the block, Escape Wines in the Walker Bay region of Hermanus, is an excellent example of cool-climate Shiraz in South Africa. I discovered this winery upon a visit to Hermanus only in May of this year! The Shiraz vineyards were planted in 2018, making the 2023 vintage their 2nd harvest!
If the 2023 is anything to go by, just look at the rapid success of the 2022 vintage having achieved a double gold medal from Gilbert & Gaillard in November 2023. A notable achievement with it being the first ever vintage! Furthermore, the 2022 vintage was sold out in no time, so it’s best you get your hands on this one quickly!
This wine spent 10 months in 3rd, 4th and older fill barrels after 14 days of extended skin maceration. Enjoy notes of dried cranberry and violet accompanied by a hint of sweet spice, black tea and umami. The tannins are lively yet silky, giving this young wine a complex and long finish. Delicious when served with venison ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms fried in a butter and sage sauce.
4. Spier First Stone Organic Red 2021
Hands down, this is my favourite organic red wines, that I first sipped back in 2021. The Spier First Stone Organic Red is a blend of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were harvested from 15- to 17-year-old trellised vines growing on deep, structured, decomposed granite soils with a high percentage of clay that ensures good water retention and minimal supplementary irrigation.
Only the free-run juice was barrelled for maturation. It spent 24 months in 55% first-fill French Oak Barrels, with the rest going into second and third-fill.
A beautiful, deep, ruby red colour, you will enjoy notes of dark cherries, blackcurrant and fennel with hints of allspice. The palate is rich, complex and balanced with a savoury, elegant finish. I love the texture of the label too! As this is a vegan wine, I would suggest sticking to a vegan dish, like a tomato Braised Chickpea stew.
5. Hazendal Chardonnay 2019
A wine that looks glamorous on the dinner table! I love this Chardonnay from Hazendal simply because, well look at it! The taste lives up to its looks too! Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes from the Bottelary area of Stellenbosch which sites vary in height from 150m to up to 400m above sea level. This area is interesting due to its intricate array of microclimates with influence coming from both False Bay in the South and the cold Atlantic in the West.
100% of the wine was aged in 500L French Oak Barrels (50% New Oak, the remainder 2nd fill).
On the nose, enjoy floral notes of elderflower and citrus blossom, followed by pineapple, mango, Cape gooseberry, fresh nutmeg, almond, vanilla, and honey. A medium-bodied wine with a refreshing acidity. Buttery brioche precedes a creamy texture. Enjoy with various seafood dishes, clams, mussels, flaky white fish, and salmon.
6. Roodekranz "Die Boskind” Bordeaux-styled Blend 2022
My most recent, red wine discovery. A red blend from Roodekranz which I discovered whilst on the Robertson New Cape Central Railway in June of this year. Roodekrantz is a boutique producer that specializes in crafting artisanal, site-specific wines and it was the label that drew me in!
This wine is a blend of 50% Merlot (Stellenbosch) and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon / 10% Cabernet Franc (Paarl) with vines between 15 and 25 years of age. The wine spent 14 months in 4th fill French Oak and only 7500 bottles were produced.
Enjoy aromas of dark cherries, black and red fruit, dried herbs and a hint of dark chocolate. On the palate, enjoy firm tannins with dark fruit flavours and a dry finish. Perfect for dishes like beef rump or sirloin.
Get the First Case of The Wine Girl Wine Club Today!
Hurry, sales end on 4 August 2024!
Note: Sales for each pack will go live the last Friday of the the following months: July/October/January/April. You can place orders for one week and expect deliveries the week after that.
