Vinatics

And so it came to pass in December 2011 that the best Vinatics ever was held and Cathy Marston had to miss it… har har – just kidding Cathy, but it was a pretty classic one. For starters we had amazing wines, Chef Caro cooked up a storm and the guests… well the guests just rocked!

PS Cathy had to jet off to London for a very fancy wine course… Wine & Spirit Education Trust (aka WSET) Approved Programme Provider educator course. So, our esteemed Wine Editor is now an APP, and can teach WSET in SA  –  only person on the continent at the moment.

Just one more reason to love her.

The wine and the food

The lovely reds

We got some real corkers this time check out the tasting notes from Cathy Marston here.  On the night we did things a little differently and we paired the 2010 Dombeya Chardonnay and the 2010 Nederburg Winemaker’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest with the Gorgonzola crème brûlée. And I must say most of us thought the Noble Late Harvest matched up to it better. Not that the Chardonnay was not absolutely delicious (like I’ve said we were really spoiled with wines this time)  – but it fell a little flat against the Gorgonzola.

Gorgonzola creme brulee

With the roast lamb main course we paired up the 2 reds. The Le Riche 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is quite possible the nicest wine I have had in many years and Pete Goffe-Wood rates it as the best Cab in the country at the moment. However the 2010 Middelvlei Free Run Pinotage really had an explosive combination with the food, and most of the guests preferred it paired with the lamb.

The roast lamb

The 2008 Boplaas Chocolate Cape Vintage Port which we paired with the plum tarte tatin had mixed reactions… most notably from Mr Goffe-Wood… (I suspect chocolate in Port was one step too far for the man)… but I think it’s best to leave you with Cathy’s thoughts or you may never drink Port again. Hey that’s just his opinion – I rather enjoyed it.
So the guests… oh yes, the honourable guests…

Pete, Paul and Sam talking world politics

@chocky33 taking notes

Jacques and Sam (Sam Woulidge)

In the spirit of Vinatics I shall name and shame them with some choice quotes… and believe me – these are some of the milder ones from the evening.

Paul Raphaely (on hearing the doorbell ring announcing the late arrival of his gorgeous wife Tracy)
“I want you guys to punish Tracy… Cath where is the Tequila kept?!”

Sam Wilson commenting on online editorial: “8000 words on one web page is not journalism – its w*nking” “I think I’m interesting and I never go over 400 words!”

Jacques, Sam Woulidge’s lovely husband, on the very first sentence he learnt in German language classes: “Our house isn’t very big – but it’s very expensive” (WTF?)

Paul Raphaely on 2012: “I’d like 2012 to be highly engorged and strident”

Sam Wilson on our new game  #shagapolitician “No-one would shag Ernest Hemingway!” (Rules? What rules?)

Caro: I miss Cathy – but now we can each have an extra glass of wine… or two… (cheeky pup!)

Elize Goffe-Wood “ it’s not my fault her phone only speaks @#$% Chinese!”