Ernie Els

Hey,

I found my notes on Ernie Els lying in my wallet. So while I'm waiting for someone to finish showering and make-up and whatever else you girls do in the bathroom (water polo?), I'll try rattle this email off. As most of you know, expect Ernie Els wines to be way over priced. Still, to deny it's quality would be a mistake. Also, it would be a mistake not to visit the farm if only to see it's very interesting entrance (which has an Eastern Cape mountainous feel) and it's spectacular and commanding view of the valley, which stretchs out for miles in front of you.

Here's the three wines I had there. The first was the Cirrus, which was a Shiraz with a dab of Viognier and you can expect vanilla, strawberry, cloves, black pepper, instant (dark/good) coffee (like that powder that floats into the air when you pop open a fresh tin) and a hint of greenness (like a kind of mint). It's quality is very jammy (thick and sticks in your mouth). The second was the Engelbrecht Els (which is a mixture of the other two styles of wine), mostly Cab Sauv with a good helping of Shiraz and sprinkles of Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, Merlot and Malbec. The Cab Sauv (with the sprinkles) gave it a heavy dark berries (esp blackberries and black currant) nose and taste, with a backing of a milky coffee or light chocolate, and the Shiraz gave it a black pepper/spicy edge to the wine. The final wine was the Ernie Els, which is a great wine, but not R500 great... Still, it's mostly Cab Sauv, with a helpful dose of Merlot and splashes of Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, and Malbec (a complete Bordeux blend). A lot of woodland smells - fynbos and pine-nuts/cones being the most prominently featured, and a complete range of berries, esp dark cherries, black currant, blueberry and plum.

Well, I need to go brush my teeth, got an early morning tomorrow. I'm counting the seconds to opening the 2007 Longridge Rose on a hot Sunday morning and relaxing with friends - what better way to enjoy wine than with good company.

On a side note - I've noticed I have a disturbing lack of White Wines in my cellar (other than my every day drinking stock). My oldest friend has arrived from the UK today, and I'm hoping to join him in a Combi trip up to Elem, so I best get to drinking my reds to make up space!

I think Monday will be Franschhoek though! Still a host of farms I need to get back to there! Til we cross paths again (and I get a chance to finish off writing about my trip to the Helderberg, as well as my trip today to the historic farms around Somerset West - definitely some of the most beautiful farms to date).

Val.