Wine Routing: Two Estates You Should Visit

June 23, 2010

Last Saturday I went wine routing with some good friends and ashamedly it’s been a while since I’ve done so.

Which is criminal if you think about it - I live on the doorstep of some of the most spectacular wine scenery in the world. I have an excuse though - for the last year I have had to attend lectures every Saturday morning for 4hrs. Now that that is over it’s back to my wine alcoholism ways!

It was a great day out - good friends, good food, good wine and peachy weather - hard to beat.

We started the day at the Lourensford Farmers Market which had a cool food hall, some second hand clothing stalls, an awesome bird sculptor and a fun “closest to the pin” golf station. The whole market (for me) is a little cheesy and not very farm like at all - so I’m not sure I’ll race back anytime soon.

Onward we marched (with full bellies) to Starke Conde in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch. I don’t think many people venture out this way but they should because my goodness the scenery and wine is spectacular.

The standout wine at our tasting at Stark Conde forced the following description out of me - “crisis this wine is sexual”.

Starke Conde Three Pines Syrah 2006

Dark and aromatic . Intense cherry, tar, coffee and violet flavours. Silky smooth tannins with a finish that will leave you with that afterglow satisfaction. In personification it is a Colombian drug lord.

From there we sped off to my favourite wine tasting venue - Camberley.

I have never ever left Camberley feeling disappointed and neither have the friends and family I have continued to take there over the years.

Perhaps it’s the intimacy of the setting, the down to earth nature of host John Nel or the wines he produces that make it all so special - I suspect a combination of all three qualities.

A number of wines stood out for me- namely the Pinotage, Shiraz and Philosophers Stone - but one in particular took the pole position for the incredible value it offers:

Camberley Charisma 2006

Forest floor nose - herbs and a hint of mint. Red fruit flavours. Some cigar box notes. Soft tannins and a seriously long, mouthwatering finish.

Retailing at R70 a bottle - I would buy cases of the stuff.

Time got the better of us and we had to rush off to find a bar to watch the Springboks wallop the Welsh and I guess that just put the cherry on top of a great day out with friends.

Posted in Boutique Wines, Estates, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine Routes, Wine Tours