Best red for under R100 – setting records!

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Roland Peens at the Wine Cellar reckons our Secateurs Red blend 2010 vintage is the best SA red you can buy for under R100.

They are currently running a special on this wine (buy per case) and 2 days into the sale he says it is selling so fast that he predicts record sales!

“Adi has hit a complete home run here, and Neal Martin’s latest Wine Advocate review is in agreement. The 90/100 rating is in line with many wines 3 or 4 times its price. Buy this wine by the case load, it’s delicious.”

He also mentions our Secateurs Chenin on his list of top wines under R100 along with other Swartland gems like Lammershoek LAM and Mullineux Kloof Street Red.

Read more and place your order here – to be a part of the record!

Something old, something new…

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Our wines are now in the Chapman’s Peak Wine & Spirits Boutique!  Voted ‘Top Wine Retailer’ by Wine Magazine, the Chapmans Peak Wine & Spirits boutique features a large selection of local and rare wines, port, liquers, imported beers and cigars. It also has one of the largest selections of malts in Cape Town. 

When last did you take a drive along the most spectacular road in the Cape?
“Chapmans Peak drive is breathtaking and still as thrilling as I can remember as a little boy. At the Hout Bay end Chapmans Peak Hotel, with their famous calamari pan awaits you, or if you drive in the direction of the harbour, keep driving until you end up at “FISH ON THE ROCKS” and grab a fish parcel.” – Adi




In other news: Adi has tracked down some old casks for our Cellar – they are old, they are sexy and they are officially ours! They hold 1800 liters of wine and will be put into the barrel cellar – yes we are throwing out all of our small casks!
 
Rasvan Macici the eastern european winemaking machine has given us some good advice on how to clean them since he has many in his cellar at Nederburg.


Plaas living

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You can now come stay in the cottage on Kalmoesfontein! The cottage, that sleeps four people (one double room and another room with two single beds) has two en-suite bathrooms, a lovely open plan kitchen / living room with a massive fireplace and views of the Swartland from the Paardeberg.

There are also hiking trails, horses, cellars, veggie gardens and more to explore!

Kalmoesfontein is located in the Paardeberg and within bike riding distance from Paarl, Wellington and Riebeek Kasteel.

Read more, see pictures and booking details by clicking here~

Top marks and honours from Wine Advocate

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Wine Advocate, probably the most influential publication in the world of wine, Neal Martin recently visited some wineries in South Africa, and he’s just released his report online yesterday!

Some notes from his report on South African wine in general:

“The aim of this report is to suggest where South Africa is going right (and trust me, it is going right in far more places than I anticipated) and where it is going wrong. I hope to convince both the uninitiated and the skeptics of the heights that their greatest wines are achieving and the potential for the future. Perhaps most importantly in these straightened times, I hope you will be convinced that a vast number of South African wines offer exceptional quality for the price.” –N.M


“The greatest potential in my opinion, comes from the Rhône based blends, from Shiraz, Grenache and to a lesser extent, Mourvèdre. One can see the climactic parallels between the Rhône Valley and areas of South Africa such as Swartland. The top wines from the likes of Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Alex Starey and Mark Kent, to name but a few, are magnificent.” – N.M

We are happy to share these tasting notes and ratings with you today:

From best to ‘worst’ (if 87 points is bad…)

2008   A A Badenhorst Family Wines Noble Late Harvest – 93pts  

2007   A A Badenhorst Family Wines Red – 93pts – a very natural, beautifully defined bouquet of dark berries, a dash of white pepper and garrigue that you would swear comes from some rocky outcrop in the Rhone. The palate has really coalesced since I tasted the 2007 in its youth: very fine tannins, wonderful balance and freshness with great tension. There are dark berries, tertiary notes, white pepper, fennel and a slight salty tang on the mid-palate that leads to a very focused finish. It will age over 8-10 years with ease. Drink now-2020
 

2009   A A Badenhorst Family Wines White – 92pts –  blend of around ten white varieties that Adi tried his best to remember. We got as far as Chenin Blanc, Grenache Gris, Palomino, Clairette and Semillon, but we might have been there all day. The striking thing about the nose is the definition, for the 2009 shows greater precision than the 2008, whilst the Palomino does indeed impart a sherry-like tincture. The palate is supremely well balanced and demonstrates greater tension and vibrancy than the 2008, as if the grapes are working together, moving in the same direction. It is very focused on the finish and should age beautifully. Drink now-2016+.

NV   A A Badenhorst Family Wines Funky White Blend – 91pts –Adi has provisionally named his Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier non-vintage blend “Funky White.” Blended with eight other varieties and aged under flor but not fortified and with a blend of four different vintages, it has a striking nose that you will either love or hate?Jura meets Swartland perhaps? The palate is very well balanced with a smooth texture and is not as oxidized as the nose implies. Apricot, lemon rind, honeycomb and walnut furnish the poised finish. This evinces individualistic winemaking, but the bottom line is that it tastes good and it tastes “cerebral.” Drink now-2015+.


2010   A A Badenhorst Family Wines Secateurs Red Blend – 90pts – ripe raspberry, blackberry and wild hedgerow on the nose that is well defined and very natural. The palate is medium-bodied, supple on the entry with juicy bright red berries, raspberry, red currant and has a touch of citrus peel lending freshness and vitality. Drink now-2013

2010   A A Badenhorst Family Wines Secateurs Chenin Blanc – 89pts – fresh, vibrant bouquet with orange blossom, Clementine and pressed white flowers. The palate is clean on the entry with a very natural feel. It is underpinned by racy acidity and light flavours of lemon peel, melon and honeysuckle that dovetail towards a refined, refreshing finish. For its price, this comes highly recommended. Drink now-2015.
2011   A A Badenhorst Family Wines Secateurs Rose – 87pts –A blend of Cinsault, Shiraz and Grenache with grapes pressed together, the 2011 Secateurs Rose has a lifted, vibrant fresh bouquet with touches of red cherry, rose petals and lime. The palate is well balanced, fresh and vibrant with a little more tannic “grip” than other South African roses. Whilst not a complex wine, it is well made and as fresh as a daisy. Drink now.

That is an average of 90 – better than any of us ever did at academics… School is overrated anyway… Just don’t tell Samuel… 😉






chasing snakes – and cooking lunch!

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Samuel and his cousin Jan-Hendrik recently helped clear a patch of land to plant artichokes and they had fun catching (non poisonous) snakes! 



We hope to treat you with lots of home grown goodness at our first open day:

Lunch of origin Swartland
We would like to invite all food and wine lovers  to our first ever OPEN DAY – a Sunday lunch on Kalmoesfontein farm, home of AA Badenhorst Family Wines.
SUNDAY LUNCH, 2 October 2011, for friends, family and even children. Ja, they can come too – we will provide a little muddy dam for them to frolic in after chasing the farm chickens. Mud is easier to clean off car seats than ice cream…
We plan to put on a most amazing lunch – my mother Judy and I will do the cooking – you just have to eat and drink and make merry (and try to keep the conversation interesting and intelligent, if you want, but the other extreme is also ok.)
The Swartland will look incredible then and from where you will sit the vistas of ripening wheat fields and budding vines is unsurpassed.
Most of the ingredients will be sourced from our farm and our neighbouring farms. These friends grow wonderful chickens, ducks, lamb and vegetables. The tastes will be fresh and alive.
The menu will be something like this (depending on available ingredients)
Salad green – baby butter lettuce with salsa verde dressing (the anchovies are not from here though)
Quiches – the way quiches should really look and taste! Vegetarian delight!
Homemade bread – from locally grown and ground flour
Pickles galore – from my mom, a woman who pickles everything in sight
Big juicy free range chickens – served whole on fresh roasted vegetables and potatoes/patats.
(So we need carvers, we will provide the right tools all you have to do is cut and share.)
 Desserts will be homemade ice cream and rhubarb from the garden.
Leaf tea and coffee from our cellar espresso maching for those that want otherwise some very special sweet wine or sherry.
The wines to pair will include- the Secateurs Rose, Chenin Blanc and Red Blend and the AA Badenhorst White and Red Blends plus some other cellar-only specials (we will dig into Cornelia’s drinking stock while she’s not looking…)
The 5Ws & H:
Who: Your Host, Andre Adriaan (Adi) Badenhorst [Family Wines]
What: Farm Fresh Sunday Roast
When: Sunday October 2nd, 2011 – 12.30 for 13.00
Where: Kalmoesfontein, Paardeberg, Swartland (map to be supplied)
Why: Cause we want to share the goodness of the Swartland with you!
How: If you are interested, mail us (aabadenhorstwine@gmail.com) and we will send you banking and booking details.
The cost will be R250/person and R50/child and we will have a farm stall style shop where you can buy wonderful produce from the area (so bring some cash and a basket).


Adi’s Eurotrip Winter 2011

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A few photos from Adi’s recent trip to Europe has surfaced. Here are a few:

Picture taken at Rock Werchter concert outside Brussels – one of these guys is Peter de Leeuw our Belgium agent…
Guess which one..?

 

Fernando is a mean cook and exceptional musician.
“He cooked the best chicken I have ever had” – simple roast, some coconut milk and spices – wonderful with our Family Red blend!



More pictures in the album “The Adventures of Adi, Winter 2011″ on our Facebook page. 

Photos from the farm

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Jasper Wickens, assistant wine maker and (un)official Paardeberg party planner sent me a few pictures from the farm. 


Above & below: Filling up the new Sherry Cellar!





Above & below: Pruning time in the vineyards



Below: Gotcha! the Muskeljaatkat that has been caught after weeks of ‘population control’ among our chickens!

Peaking in on the Swartland

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American wine enthusiast and author of Wine-Zag, Adam Japko recently visited the Swartland in an attempt to get to know the region and the wines up close and personal. 
He has been infatuated with our piece of valley “ever since tasting a bottle of Sadie Family Vineyards’ Palladius more than a year ago. ” 


He believes “Most importantly, an overwhelming majority of Swartland wines I tasted deserve regular appearances in all serious wine enthusiasts’ drinking regimens.”


He stayed in the cottage on Kalmoesfontein and starts his feedback of the Swartland with some flattery for Adi:


“While Adi is just one piece of the Swartland winemaker fabric, joined by the likes of David Sadie, Eben Sadie, Chris Mullineux, and Craig Hawkins, he epitomizes the thumb to the nose, do it “my way”, pioneering, radical but humble, and unconventional attitude fueling one of the most significant modern day regional winemaking upheavals.”


Read the whole post and see the videos (in which Adi proclaims: “Honestly I would rather eat my toenails and watch a Jerry Springer omnibus than drink a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.”)

New and Exclusive

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We here on Kalmoesfontein have decided to take a step in the direction of being even more exclusive. Starting next week – Adi will make some of his small quantity, experimental wines available for sale to our database of subscribers only.

The first offer is the Badenhorst Family Wine NV, also known as The Funky White.
It is primarily a blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier (accounting for around 80% of the wine) with the rest being made up of a blend of eight other varieties! They wine is kept under a Solera system which has been running since 2007.


Only 650 bottles of this wine will be bottled every year and this year’s batch will be sold exclusively to our mailing list. The wine is not for sale in retail outlets and only a few selected restaurants have it on their wine list.

The offer is limited to 6 bottles per person on a first come first served basis. It is only open to people living in South Africa and will be delivered upon proof of payment. To stand in line, email us on aabadenhorstwine@gmail.com 

Praise for the ‘Wine’ includes this:
What is important is that it is a wine got that my wahoo flowing, it made me smile, it made me quickly pour another glass, and best of all (this for me is a really important aspect of wine) it made me want another bottle. Quickly.
–       –   Harry Haddon

The ‘Wine’ from Badenhorst has a lovely aroma of tropical fruit, particularly showing off gorgeous notes of passion-fruit and kiwi, these are backed up by almonds and sweet spice. The palate is intense with an elegant body and lovely firm acidity, the complex assortment of flavours includes hay, spice, nuts and peach. The finish is long, silky and very creamy.
–       –   Alex Redfern

The AA Badenhorst NV ‘Funky White’ is an artisanal wine with a flor-like quality
–        –  Cathryn Henderson

So make sure you get on our mailing list (email aabadenhorstwine@gmail.com) to make use of this and other amazing exclusive offers. Offer will go out early next week!