Goodbye 2024

  Goodbye 2024

Covid Vaccinations:

 October - Covid Booster with Flu Vaccine

Travel:

Criccieth - 26-30 January

Lanzarote, Puerto Calera - February 11-26

Viking Ve - Tulips & Windmills (Ams>Ams) 27 Mar - 5 April

Scenic Azure - Unforgettable Douro (Porto>Porto) 18 June - 8 July

Scenic Jasper - Romantic Rhine & Moselle (Ams>Basel) 5-19 Aug

Criccieth - 24-29 August

Viking Skaga - Paris & Heart of Normandy (Paris>Paris) 5-12 Sep

South Africa, Gordon's Bay - 11-22 November

Funerals:

4 January - Pierre Johan Loubser 29/10/1939 -22/12/2023 

22 May - Sieglinde Brigitte Wilson 05/10/1937 - 14/04/2024

10 December - Cliff Forsyth 1/11/1942-24/11/2024

Christmas Trees (?) for Sale in St Albans

 

Krisie and Dan at Oslo Court

 

To London to Oslo Court. It's Krisie's first visit.

Toby, Emma, Jack, Dan & Krisie at Aspava

All together, first at home to exchange presents then to Aspava for our Christmas get together.

Commonplace Book 2024

I posted out copies of my fifth annual Commonplace Book. The cover shows Portugal's Douro River, taken on a Scenic River cruise on 4 July 2024, from outside the Côa Parque Museum, where the Côa River joins the Douro.

Insets on the rear cover show Jack, Toby and Emma at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England on 21 September 2024 and Dan and Krisie at Ernie Els Winery, Stellenbosch, South Africa on 22 November 2024.

Delheim Lunch and Homeward

 

Last day in the Cape and our tradition is a final meal at Delheim.

We had a last look at the vines,

and headed to our Garden Restaurant table at the edge overlooking Table Mountain in the far distance. I had again Cape Malay curry and we had a bottle of Vera Cruz Pinotage 2021/

With Pinotage ice-cream dessert we had a glass of Edelspatz Botrytis Riesling 2022.

Then back to the apartment to pack; we left for the airport at 16:00. In the lounge we had a glass of Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel MCC and Bonneville River Collection  Pinotage 2022.

On the plane it was a choice between Champagne and Simpsons Chalklands Classic Brut NV from Kent, and jolly good the latter was too. With dinner I had Irache Reserva 2017, a Spanish blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, and Grahams Six Grapes Ruby Port to finish. I was disappointed there were no South African wines.

The plane arrived on time on Sunday and we'd missed the snow, but it seemed very cold and dull.

Dan had to be at work the following day so we went to bed, had lunch and Dan & Krisie drove back to Wales.

Ernie Els & Stellenrust

Ernie Els Entrance - photo by Krisie

I'd hoped to spent the morning at Ernie Els before lunching at Rust en Vrede, but we set out late. We were greeted with a large glass of Big Easy Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2023.

Photo courtesy of Krisie

There was no rush at the tasting at Ernie Els  as we sat at a table outside with great views over the valley. 

Dan & Krisie chose the Players Tasting, comprising  the four Big Easy range; Chenin Blanc 2023, Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé  2024, Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 and Red Blend 2021.

 Joan and I went for the Major Tasting, which had Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Merlot 2021 and Proprietors Syrah 2017 and Proprietor's Blend 2018.

Lunch at Ernie Els - photo by Krisie

We were still there  at 14:00 so ordered food at our tasting table and a bottle of Proprietor's Reserve 2018.

Stellenrust - photo by Krisie

Afterwards we went to Stellenrust Winery. Their Pinotage and Chenin are under the Finest label at Tesco, and we have enjoyed sublime 2021 Stellenrust Pinotage at Chez Mumtaj.

Photo by Krisie

We enjoyed a tasting and bought some wines.

Dinner was at Spur where we had the Kanonkop Estate Paul Sauer 2021 that Joan bought at the winery.

Photo by Krisie

And we watched the sun set over the Old Harbour from Sunset Beach for the last time this trip.

Ocean Basket

 

Dan & Krisie went to Cape Point. We had a leisurely day, walking to Ocean Basket for lunch but as we zig-zagged though the sand dune plantings sprinklers came on and we were soaked.

Joan had six king prawns for 254R (£11.75)

I was disappointed they no longer offered a 'blackened' version of the Kingklip, but it was still tasty. We took a bottle of Delheim Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc 2023.

When Krisie and Dan returned from their day out, we had an aperitif of Houw Hoek MCC 2015 then went to Spur with Backsberg  Blueberry Row Pinotage 2022 and T J Wines Pinotage 2021

Kanonkop, Beyerskloof, and Ernie Els (briefly)

 

Dan wanted to visit Kanonkop Estate for a tasting. We sat at a table and were brought their four Kadettes plus the estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Paul Sauer.

The tasting fee was 100R each which was waived as we bought some bottles; Joan bought  Paul Sauer, Krisie the Kadette Pinotage Rose, and Dan the Pinotage.

Then we headed to Beyerskloof for lunch where the Pinotage Burger was even better the the previous week with the bun toasted inside and crisper chips. Even the gratis garlic pizza bread was better.

This time we had a bottle of single vineyard Kriekbult Pinotage 2022.

Krisie at Ernie Els

Then to Ernie Els. We were greeted with a large glass of chilled rosé, but there were not doing any new tastings as there was a storm coming and tastings were taken outside. We could see the clouds rolling towards us across the valley, so we returned to the apartment and had a Boschendal MCC aperitif while Dan made a bolognaise sauce and garlic bread which we enjoyed with

Fairview Pinotage 2021

Piekenskloof Pinotage 2023

T J Wines Pinotage 2021 - Wine Village said this was labelled for an export shipment which fell through.

Hermanus Again

To Hermanus again on the hunt for whales. First, lunch at Marine Hotel.

I had Cape Malay lamb curry, which was enjoyable. Wine was Beaumont Jackals River Pinotage 2022. 

Then across to the cliff path, but again we were disappointed to see no whales. We popped into Woolworths to buy dinner and to let Krisie and Dan loose among the clothes. Then to Wine Village where I stocked up on Pinotage. The new owner has reduced the wine shelving for a private tasting table.

Back at the apartment we had an aperitif bought at Wine Village by Joan. She wanted to show Krisie an unoaked Chardonnay and Bouchard Finlayson Sans Barrique Chardonnay 2023 was a cracker

Wild fires on our return meant the police diverted us through a township, but the diversion didn't take  long.

We had dinner on the balcony as the sun went down. Woolworths meat pie, new potatoes and baked beans. 

To drink:

Beyerskloof Synergy 2022

Doolhof Pinotage 2022

Warwick First Lady Pinotage 2022

Day at Leisure

 Dan and Krisie went on safari at Aquila game reserve all day. 

We had a leisurely day with lunch at Couzens and afterward a walk along the seafront to the Old Harbour jetty. Harbour View restaurant is now derelict, with gaping holes in the floor which is held up by scaffolding poles and steel sheets nailed over windows.

After Krisie and Dan returned we had as aperitif Houw Hoek MCC 2015, then went to Spur with Stettyn Pinotage 2023 and Boschendal Pinotage 2022.

Dan & Krisie saw lions, elephants, rhinos, ostriches, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and tortoises.

Houw Hoek and Boschendal

We went to Houw Hoek Farmstall on the N2 near Bot Rivier for lunch where I had my usual Bobotie Spring Rolls. 

I bought a bottle of Houw Hoeks own MCC 2015 and Stettyn Pinotage 2023 which had impressed Krisie and Dan at their Couzens lunch.

Then a scenic drive to Franschhoek. Last time I had seen the massive Theewaterskloof Reservoir was after three consecutive years of drought and there was just a dribble of a stream running down its middle.

Krisie & Dan overlooking Franschhoek

We drove through Franschhoek to Boschendal and sat at a table under trees for a leisurely tasting. Krisie and Joan chose the 1685 Range Chocolate Pairing, where Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinotage from their 1685 range were each paired with a chocolate.

I had only the wines from Taste of Boschendal Charcuterie Pairing. The MCC Brut NV was delicious so was the 1685 Sauvignon Blanc 2024  which had the racy gooseberry tastes I like, but the red Nicolas 2022 Bordeaux blend with Shiraz had an unpleasant tea-towel aftertaste and the expensive Shiraz led Black Angus 2021 blend was disappointingly less than the sum of its parts.

Back at the apartment Dan cooked Lamb Shanks, new potatoes, carrots and cauliflower & broccoli florets which went perfectly with Kanonkop Kadette Cape Blend 2022.

Spur

Dan & Krisie went off to spend time on the beach, explore beachside shops and to lunch at Couzens. We lunched at Bootleggers, I had a Falafel wrap with tea. We spent the afternoon reading in the apartment.

In the evening we dined at a packed Spur, using the 50R loyalty voucher that was on the app. 

We took Delheim Vera Cruz Pinotage 2021 and Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage 2022 and we bought the white label Beyerskloof Pinotage 2022.

Dan & Krisie at Spur

Babylonstoren and Spice Route

It was the hottest day so far, there was no wind and it was too hot to really enjoy Babylonstoren's amazing gardens. 

Also, being the beginning of the Cape's summer, nothing was ripe.

Long delays because of road works delayed us going, and although we left on another route, there were road works with long delays, so we were hungry when we arrived at Spice Route.

We ate outside at La Grapperia Pizza & Bistro and I had a Romana without cheese  with  pepper, olives and anchovies and extra capers and chillies.

Krisie chose Matta which came with bacon and bananas and which she said it was tasty and delicious.

I chose a refreshing Spice Route Chenin Blanc 2023.

The Chocolate Factory was undergoing major change, and there was no sign of chocolate being made but some chocs were bought. 

There was just time to pop into neighbouring Fairview but the 5-Star wine I wanted was sold out.

Another shop at Checkers on the way home. And then a MCC aperitif before take-away fish'n'chips from Ooskus accompanied by Delheim Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc 2023 and Delheim Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Beyerskloof Lunch and Klein Zalze Tasting

 

To Beyerskloof for lunch, sitting outside on the deck overlooking Beyerskloof's vineyards with mountains in the distance.

While waiting for our order to be cooked we were given a complimentary Garlic Pizza Bread, hot from their wood fired pizza oven.

Then the out of this world Pinotage Burger, which I paired with Beyerskloof Reserve Pinotage 2022.

To follow

Pinotage Gelato with mixed berries in berry compote.

I bought two bottles of single vineyard Kriekbult Pinotage 2022 to bring home, but Checkers was cheaper for Synergy and Reserve.

On way back Dan wanted to call into Kleine Zalze.

We sat outside and chose from a number of tasting options. Krisie chose Cap Classique

while Dan picked  a selection of red wines. 

It was very leisurely, the pours were large, and it seemed many ordered nibbles and treated it as a wine bar.

Back at the apartment, after calling in to Woolworthss, Dan warmed up their Cape Malay Lamb Curry and naan bread and cooked rice, which we had with 2022 Pinotages from Kleine Zalze (Cellar Selection) Spier (Signature Collection) and Diemersfontein (Prodigy).

And then we watched the sun set over Table Mountain and lights come on over Cape Flats.