What`s happening at Glen Carlou this summer

In November every year, the Platter Guide is launched with many of us waiting in anticipation to see what the results are.

Whilst we eluded any five stars this year, our results were consistent with the past five years, our Prestige Range Wines – Quartz Stone, Gravel Quarry achieved 4 ½ stars again and our Classic Wines were consistently awarded 4 stars. We are pleased with these results as it reflects a strong message of consistency.

Speaking of consistency, Arco Laarman our illustrious Winemaker is celebrating 15 vintages at Glen Carlou. To commemorate his achievement we are releasing a very small batch of wines under ‘The Curator’s Collection’. The wines released under this label are small parcel wines Arco has been crafting away in his cellar the past couple of years.

The first two wines to be released are a 2013 Chenin Blanc made from 30 year bush vines from the Swartland. This wine was matured in second and third filled French oak for 10 months. The colour is a light straw with a copper hint. The nose shows aromas of ripe white fruit and a subtle dried floral aspect. The mouth feel is rich and full bodied with yeasty apple and quince flavours. There is a lovely dryness in the wine whilst still having some tangy, fresh fruit, with well rounded acidity on the finish.

The second is the 2011 Pinot Noir Reserve which was matured in 100% new oak for 12 months. It has a medium-dark ruby colour with ripe plums, black cherry and hints of leather and tobacco on the nose. The palate is smooth with some mulberry and strawberry notes. The tannins are soft at the finish with gentle balanced acid.

Chef Johan is coming up to his two year anniversary as Head Chef and he and his team have once again put together a delicious Summer menu which screams of freshness. He has created a lovely fennel and peach salad which has orange, a crumbed goats cheese mousse with a pernod and poppy dressing which pairs so well with our newly released 2014 Sauvignon Blanc. It is not often that we repeat a dish, however we are returning the ‘study of tomatoes’ as we believe it is one of the best examples of how to use this summer fruit. It comes with an olive oil poached roma tomato, confit cherry tomato, tomato sorbet, basil pesto, crumbed goats cheese and the most delicious tomato water – we have paired this with our richly textured 2013 Unwooded Chardonnay made in our Nomblot, egg shaped concrete fermenters.

For the mains I think it will be hard to move beyond the ever popular pork belly. Chef Johan has accompanied this with charred spring onions, a corn and chilli salsa, broccoli puree and a lime vinaigrette. There is also a lovely line fish dish with a seared scallop, preserved grapes, shaved cauliflower, light curry vinaigrette and steamed jasmine rice served with the 2013 Unwooded Chardonnay.

The new menu will be released during the first week in December.

We were thrilled to receive four stars in Russouw’s Restaurant Guide which was also released in November. This is an independent restaurant guide where the critics are unannounced to experience the restaurant as any guest would. This is a wonderful credit to Chef Johan and his team.

As mentioned earlier, we have now released our 2014 Sauvignon Blanc. It has brilliant clarity; subtle green fruits of melon and fig can be identified on the nose along with passion fruit, gooseberry and grapefruits with a touch of minerality. It is refreshing on the palate with well balanced acid and bright fruits of green apple, gooseberry and pineapple. The time on lees allows for a well balanced wine with a soft finish. It is a wine to be enjoyed now or with a little bit more time in the bottle.

To make your life a little easier over the holiday season we have put together a lovely ‘Festive Celebration Box’ which includes one bottle each of the Sauvignon Blanc, Unwooded Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and The Welder. This has a very special price of R 425.50 a box, this would normally be priced at R566. It is our gift to you.

Well, that rounds out another year here at Glen Carlou. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and engagement. We thoroughly enjoy each and every one of you when you visit us at the winery or make yourselves known at the various events and tastings we conduct around the country. Please keep coming up and saying hello. We wish you and your families a safe and happy festive season and we trust that there will be Glen Carlou in your glasses.

STOP PRESS: Just as I was about to press send, we have released the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon.