Stellenbosch Hills recently released their “magnificent seven”. These include five wines from the 2016 harvest, as well as a new vintage of their top-performing Stellenbosch Hills Sauvignon Blanc.
Stellenbosch Hills
Stellenbosch Hills{SH} is located in the Vlottenburg district in Stellenbosch. Their fantastic wines are crafted by cellarmaster PG Slabbert, who joined in 1997, as well as winemaker James Ochse, who joined the team in 2016.
Stellenbosch Hills “Magnificent Seven”
To showcase their magnificent seven, Stellenbosch Hills hosted a wine-paired lunch at Majeka House in Stellenbosch. Certain dishes paired with two or more wines, highlighting their diversity with regards to food. In true Majeka House fashion, each course a gastronomic food and wine journey.
Our appetisers were a rather unusual selection of dishes, paired with the SH Sauvignon Blanc Brut. Appetizers included farm egg “hereboontjie”, a “snoek tertjie”, nasturtium, avocado, as well as 2-day whole wheat sourdough, with amasi butter.
Chenin Blanc 2018
The Chenin Blanc, a well-balanced wine that delivers both fruitiness, as well as a crisp acidity, was my favourite white wine of the day. It delivers sweet notes from passion and stone fruit, balanced by tart green apple and a hint of lemon zest. The Chenin Blanc paired well with the Fire Roasted Octopus, kohlrabi and apple. I felt the apple in the dish further enhanced the wonderful fruitiness of the wine, while the acidity in the wine paired well with the octopus.
Sauvignon Blanc 2018
The Stellenbosch Hills Sauvignon Blanc recently claimed two golds and a double gold for the 2017 vintage. The 2018 vintage is a crisp wine, with a fresh lime zest acidity. You can also expect green fig, gooseberry and sweet melon aromas with a hint of guava and asparagus. I found the Sauvignon Blanc to be quite high in acidity, not necessarily something I would drink on its own. It did, however, pair well with the 5 Day aged linefish, pickled potato, green olives and dune spinach. Interestingly the acidity from the “pickling” in the dish balanced the acidity in the wine, and the saltiness from the green olives enhanced the more fruity profile of the wine.
Bushvine Pinotage 2016
The 2016 Pinotage is full-bodied with excellent complexity and was one of my favourite red wines. The wine delivers more spice than expected, as well as a delicious combination of dark ripe fruits, such as blackberries, plums and mulberries. Velvety tannins bring balance on the palate, leaving you with a lovely lingering finish. The Pinotage was served with the Lamb “staanrib” which was my favourite dish of the day.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
The Cabernet Sauvignon was not as full-bodied as I expected it to be. You can expect ripe blackberries, plum and blackcurrant, as well as subtle hints of French oak spice and vanilla. The Cabernet also paired with the Lamb “staanrib”, I felt was a bit overpowered by the strong flavour of the lamb.
Merlot 2016
As with the Pinotage, I was surprised and delighted by the Merlot. It is a full-bodied wine with a intense, ruby-red colour. The wine delivers red and blackberries, as well as ripe plums but what I enjoyed most was its spiciness. It is lovely and smooth on the palate, with a lingering finish. Again the Merlot was paired with the Lamb “staanrib”, which in my opinion was a great pairing, as it had more than enough “guts” to stand up to the rich flavour of the lamb.
Shiraz 2016
The 2016 Shiraz was a favourite on the day. It has a classic red fruit character with an abundance of spice and savoury notes. You can expect a bold tannin structure, with a lingering finish. I could quite happily drink it on its own but enjoyed it with the Octopus starter.
Muscat de Hambourg 2016
Last but not least was the Muscat De Hambourg, which is made in a Jeripico style, as the juice is fortified with alcohol. You can expect a wine that is exceptionally fragrant on the nose with notes of rose petals and boiled sweets. On the palate, the wine is elegant with a rich sweetness, the perfect ending to our meal. The Muscat De Hambourg was paired with banana carpaccio, roasted yeast caramel and sourdough ice cream. I am, unfortunately not a fan of banana in a dessert and did not enjoy this pairing. As I do not have a sweet tooth, I would far rather enjoy this wine with a tart dessert or even a medium to strong flavoured cheese.
Prices and Location
Stellenbosch Hill wines retail from R52 to R80 per bottle, making them very affordable. The cellar is located just outside Stellenbosch, at the intersection of the R310 and Vlottenburg Road. It is open Monday to Friday, 09h00 – 17h00; and, Saturdays: 10h00 – 15h00; and, closed on public holidays. You can contact them via telephone + 27 (0)21 881 3828/9 or email: info@stellenbosch-hills.co.za.
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Disclosure
Wine tasting and lunch were complimentary. We have no material connection to the brands, products, or services mentioned in this post. Care has been taken to ensure that all information provided, including prices, are deemed correct at time of publishing. Please note that all opinions, content, and images are the property of Inspired Living or Fiona Rossiter unless otherwise stated. To see more, read the full PR & Disclosure Policy below.
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