Two of my most popular wines at the moment are My Koffer (Cinsaut) and Kortpad Kaaptoe (Fernão Pires). Yesterday we were doing stocktake and much to my amazement I realised that we only have 10 cases (60 bottles) left of the 2016 vintage of each wine, without me officially releasing it. These wines seem to have vanished into the hands of ambitious clients and some export agents. So here we go – before it is really too late – first come first serve:
My Koffer 2016 – Named after the first bottle of wine I ever bought with my own money sometime around 1994 – R3.50 a bottle… In memory of old-style Tassenberg with all the emotions connected to a first love. This is “My TASSENBERG”, “My TAS” – BLANKBOTTLE My Koffer 2016 – a suitcase full of memories. This is a straight Cinsaut from a single vineyard in the Breedekloof. The Winelands Magazine (in its latest issue) described it as follows: “Light, ruby-red colour. Concentrated aromas of strawberry, red berries and Cherries with hints of spice. Medium full palate with fine chalky tannin and great length. Classic Cinsaut style”.
Kortpad Kaaptoe 2016 – Straight Fernão Pires (also called Maria Gomes in Portugal) from a 34-year old non-irrigated bush-vine vineyard planted in sandy topsoil with clay below on the Darling side of the Swartland. I accidentally stumbled upon this vineyard whilst taking a shortcut along dirt roads heading towards Cape Town from Darling. So the wine is called “Kortpad Kaaptoe” (Afrikaans for “The shortest way to Cape Town”). This is the 3rd vintage of the wine and the style moved a bit towards the elegant side of Maria Gomes. Spice-driven with fragrant finesse, but a strong potent core.