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.