Allée Bleue, a wine estate that celebrates a decade of reinvention this year, is marking that achievement with the introduction of – amongst other things – a new winemaker, a new GM, three new wines and the largest conference and event venue in the Winelands. And two of those wines are pink.
So, invited by them the other day to sample their new wines and see the new space, it was reinforced yet again how serious the German owners of Allée Bleue are about this estate. Its wines have always been distinctive in style – they’ve never been afraid of blends and their entry level Starlette Blanc and Rouge blends have always been good value as well. But Pinotage and Chenin have always been at the forefront of their production and that isn’t changing with their new trio.
First up is the unusual MCC – an unusual blend of pinotage and chenin blanc, as above, a combination that very few others use as their base for MCC, whose stalwart base wines are usually pinot noir and chardonnay, of course. The upshot for the 15-month on lees Brut Rosé is unusual and quite a lot younger and more acid than the more established names in the market – the brioche mentioned in the tasting notes wasn’t there for me. But a fruitier dessert-friendly freshness was: when served at the right temperature, properly chilled, it matches strawberry-based desserts (as we were served) fabulously. And at R89.50 from the cellar door, it isn’t over-priced either.
Indeed, the food and wine pairings were excellent – a surprise for an estate not yet noted for its cuisine, and one that bodes well for events planned for this 320 year-old wine farm. Interestingly, the day after I was there, there Allée Bleue was again on M-Net’s All Access and someone also said that Khanyi Dhlomo had recently been married there. So maybe it’s more on the A list than I know…
But back to the wine and food. The starter and its accompanying Rosé were very fine, perhaps the multi-textured smoked salmon entrée more than the R32 shiraz based Rosé itself. Rosé is very hard to get right, I find. Either bitter and harsh or overly sweet. Getting the balance right, as farms like Newton Johnson, De Grendel and Elgin Vintners do quite well, is by no means a given. Personally, I consider Allée Bleue to be getting close but not quite, yet, the cigar. A bit too much rasp and not enough berry.
~ A bit too much rasp and not enough berry ~
Their new wooded Chenin Blanc, however, is another story. I am quite of the opinion that a well crafted, passionately produced Chenin Blanc can be more than a match for an equally well-designed Chardonnay. Beaumont’s Hope Marguerite comes to mind, as do the wooded Chenins from Spier and Springfontein. This new Chenin from Allée Bleue can hold its head high in such company and was a great foil for the gently Thai-sauced blackened chicken we were served for main course. A steal at R39.
So, in the end, a satisfying next step in the progression Allée Bleue is undoubtedly making towards being on the A list of winelands events venues. Its own bubbly, a very fine food-friendly chenin blanc, a vast range of herbs and fruits, that romantic olive grove outside its new Grand Hall venue and a tangible commitment to quality and excellence in all they do.
Furthermore, they are now certainly on the “worth a detour” list for the area, which, in wine terms, is a little schizophrenic because the river that splits Allée Bleue in half rendered one side of the river and farm Wine of Origin Franschhoek and the other side WO Paarl. Until the nice SAWIS people recently agreed to move the boundary so they could be just one – Franschhoek. Surely closer as the crow – and certainly the foodie – flies…
Pinotage ★★★☆, Starlette Pinotage ★★★☆, Shiraz ★★★☆, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot ★★★☆, Starlette Rouge ★★★, L’Amour Toujours red blend★★★☆, Chenin Blanc ★★★★☆, Sauvignon Blanc ★★★☆, Starlette Blanc ★★★, Pinotage Natural Sweet ★★★☆, Cape Ruby ★★★☆. Plus the MCC, the Rosé and the NEW Chenin Blanc mentioned above, as yet unrated by the Great Platter…
UPDATE: Veritas 2010 Gold Winner - Starlette Blanc