There definitely is a chill in the air, don’t you think?
Compared to last year, I do feel that we haven’t had a “proper” autumn yet, but we are getting there!
As a food and wine enthusiast, it is also the perfect opportunity to try a few more robust reds. So, of course, I shouted “yes, please!” when we were offered the opportunity to sip Hartenberg’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz.
Being a fan of this Stellenbosch wine estate for a good couple of years, we know that they offer quite an impressive range of beautiful wines. As devout Riesling lovers, it was the first Hartenberg wine we tried, and we soon expanded our range by enjoying the divine Eleanor and a whole range of gorgeous reds and red blends.
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz is Hartenberg’s bestseller, and with very good reason. Quite reasonably priced (at around R105 per bottle as per their online store), this wine surely packs a punch.
Sniffing and swirling, you will get notes of rich red fruit, oak, and a bit of spice. Moving on to sipping you will get hints of dark chocolate, a dash of dried herbs, pepper and plum – all the robust notes of a Stellies Cab blended with the smooth spice of shiraz. So enjoyable!
As you can imagine, this is also a great “food wine”. Reading the tasting notes, you will see that this wine is incredibly versatile. The food pairing recommendations include pizza and even grilled fish, but this time we decided that red meat is our way to go.
Enter, my other half’s cooking skills!
Ta da! Rosemary lamb rack with Gratin dauphinois (good old-fashioned potato bake).
The taste of rosemary smoked cheese, and crispy lamb fat complimented the oak, spice, and notes of dried herbs in this gem from Hartenberg so well. (I am already nagging him to re-create this pairing again!)
Do add this winter warmer to your “to-sip” list if you haven’t done so already, I would love to hear what you think!
PS: We received this wine from “We Talk Wine”, the online wine lover’s community! Thank you.