I’m a firm believer in quality, not quantity.
And while there’s always occasion to open an exceptional red wine, now’s
a great time to introduce noteworthy whites to the dinner table. Here
are a few of my picks for the week, which include bubbly, white and red:
Golden Triangle producer Stellenzicht has just unveiled its 2007 Plum Pudding Hill syrah. Winemaker Guy Webber, who is one of South Africa’s pinotage masters with a personal tally of five Absa Top 10 scores, told us recently at a vertical tasting dinner he hosted at DW eleven-13 in Dunkeld West the wine had been named for a corner on the Stellenbosch property. One day, en route to the market, a trailer carrying plums from the farm tipped over, making a terrible mess, and the hill subsequently became known as Plum Pudding Hill.
The Plum Pudding syrah is a new single vineyard
addition to the estate’s portfolio. The wine is inky blue-garnet in
colour, with ripe, dark fruit with hints of pepper and violets (costs
around R170 a bottle).
Highlights of the meal, which was marked by
often opulent flavours and portions, were the langoustine and quail with
turnip puree, pickled red cabbage, poached quail egg and bacon fat
powder – presented artistically on simple black slate; the spiced
springbok loin with a beetroot puree, caramelised sweet potato tarte
tatin and a cranberry jus; and an OTT dulce de leche ice cream with
white hazelnut praline, chocolate fudge and chocolate sauce.
DW eleven-13 celebrates five years in the
business this year and owner Marthinus Ferreira, one of Jozi’s most
celebrated chefs and a past Ultimate Braai Master judge, is not resting
on his laurels. Already he has expanded his small restaurant to include
The Grazing Room – a contemporary Asian-inspired tapas bar. And if two
restaurants weren’t enough, Marthinus tells me he is set to open another
near the Circa art gallery in Rosebank. It’s certainly one to look out
for.
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