How to create a theme around South Africa vs the British Lions? Well, back in the day, the region of Bordeaux was owned by the poms, so how about a BLIND TASTING OF BORDEAUX vs SOUTH AFRICA followed by a boerie roll and perhaps a cane and creamsoda to cleanse the palate. So, the blind lineup follows:

• Chateau Yon-Figeac 2001 – French
• De Trafford Merlot 2003 – SA
• Jordan Sophia CWG 2002 – SA
• Grand Puy Lacoste 2002 – French
• Chateau La Dome 2001 – French
• Two Oceans Cab Merlot 2008 (no jokes!) – SA
• De Trafford Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 – SA
• Angelus 2002 – French
• De Toren Fusion V 1999 – SA

Guests were asked to tell us whether they thought the wine was French or South African and rate it out of 10. The results were interesting to say the least. Everyone thought the Jordan Sophia was a superb right bank Bordeaux. One gent put his manhood on the line rating the Two Oceans Cab Sav Merlot a 10 out of 10 – “simply the best wine I have ever had”. The results were conclusive though – South Africa took it! The top three follow:

1) De Toren Fusion V 1999 – SA

2) Chateau La Dome 2001 – France

3) Jordan Sophia 2002 – SA

Well done the bokke! It was then time to enjoy a boerie roll with traditional Indian sauces, ensuring that no further effective wine tasting could be done.

Pic: This was not true

Pic: Wine Bandit happy with result

Pic: Ending the evening with a wine that makes life worth living: the Jordan Sophia CWG 2002

What a memorable evening, thanks to all involved, especially the Lions supporters behind us, who might sing better than us but cannot claim to have winning wines, judged by discerning palates, or a winning side on the night!

It is quite a challenge to pick out the five different Bordeaux varietals blind; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec all have certain characteristics, but many of them have similar parentage, so there are a lot of common traits! The first wine people taste leaves them confident that they know the varietal, then the uncertainty sets in when another wine tastes MORE like a Cabernet Sauvignon than the other! At the end of the night the best result was 3 out of 5 correct, a good feat since only one person has got it correct in all the years of the component tasting, and that was an international sommelier.

Thanks to De Toren for letting us host this special tasting. The attention to detail that goes into the wine is incredible and evident in the final product. From taking overhead infrared photos of the vineyard to gauge pockets of ripeness, to exclusive use of gravity to move wine around in the cellar, means that the wine is treated softly, softly, gently, gently, leading to the beautiful soft tannins and opulent fruit that characterises these wines. The diverse blending partners adds to the complexity. Keep up the great work!

Keep a look out on our tastings page for our next events at Campbell House.

Why Bordeaux? Certainly, this region is the birth place for many great wines and is often used as a benchmark by winemakers around the world. Kevin Arnold, winemaker of Waterford Estate in the Stellenbosch region, has likened the Helderberg pocket to the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux, due to wines from these regions often having a stronger and more austere tannin finish.

How does one go about arranging a visit to this region? It must be said that visiting Chateaux in France is not simply a matter of arriving at the door with an empty glass and a smile, which will suffice in Stellenbosch. Some preparation is certainly key!

The first step is to gather as many contacts in Bordeaux as possible as personal introductions are essential. The second step is to draft a beautifully written email and send it to the Chateaux that you wish to visit. The third step is to not get frustrated when nobody responds! Rather, translate your original email into French and resend. Watch that inbox because the replies will fly in! Then, after numerous translations and counter translations your dates will be set. Some Chateaux like Mouton Rothschild will charge you, but nothing excessive. Mouton Rothschild is a good example of the wealth and aura synonymous with first growth Chateaux. A wine tour of the facility is complimented by a visual presentation that would make an I-Max producer jealous, a tour around a priceless wine collectible museum and the grand finale, a barrel sample tasting of the latest pre-release vintage. One almost feels guilty drinking some of this precious liquid, almost. Suffice to say, the credit cards are usually out before the wine is even poured.

More sedate and personable wine interactions can be found on the Right bank, in St Emillion and Pomerol. The medieval village of St Emillion is absolutely beautiful, set amongst rolling hills of vineyards. The town council has banned satellite dishes, rather opting to pay for everyone to receive cable television, to maintain the heritage of the area. Whilst still not easy to access, the leading Chateaux like Angelus, Pavie and Bellefont-Belcier will give you a guided tour, in most cases by the wine maker or owner themselves. A wine tasting will also lead to a lengthy discussion on the wine and the terroir, because the French understand that the land and climate are everything for a wine. Bordeaux certainly has a wonderful diversity of both, which can only be experienced first hand.

If you need advice or recommendations when planning your wine trip to Bordeaux please contact info@undertheinfluence.co.za