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 than 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.