There’s a hidden gem in the Garden Route, over on the Karoo side of the Outeniqua mountains above George.
In what is arguably SA’s coldest wine-growing region, on the Outeniqua slopes around 800m above sea level in the Upper Langkloof ward, world-renowned pro golfer Retief Goosen produces his The Goose wines.
About 160km from Kareedouw through the beautiful Langkloof valley, you can’t miss the stone wall at The Goose Wines entrance on your left, with the vineyards high above on the mountain slopes.
The point about them being among the country’s coldest for growing wine grapes, the reason that “cool climate” wines are very much in vogue, is that the cold is really good for the grapes, which ripen more slowly, are harvested later, and develop intensity and complexity of flavour.
Particularly in the summer growing season, when the winds bring cold, moist air that cools the Outeniqua vineyards to the low 20s, while 50km away as the crow flies, Oudtshoorn is baking in a Karoo summer at 40C.
These conditions create distinctive wines, with high natural acidity that bodes well for ageing, even in white wines, even though us South Africans tend not to believe in ageing white wines.
Tasting The Goose sauvignon blanc 2022 (R100 on order, see below) brought to mind the Sauvignon Blancs of cool-climate Elgin, as well as the Garden Route sauvignon blanc that is grown nearby in the Upper Langkloof.
These are all distinctly different sauvignon blancs to those grown in warmer climates — the cool cousins tending towards tropical and green/grassy notes, a slightly weightier, more textured mouthfeel alongside zesty freshness.
The Goose sauvignon blanc is packaged in the tall narrow bottles usually used for riesling, and one does wonder if it was the power of suggestion, but the drinking experience was almost riesling-like.
in the wine’s abundant fragrance, the intensity of the gooseberry and passion fruit flavours, some herbaceous greenness, and a creamy-crunchy texture with a long finish.
A Platter’s 4* rating is well deserved for this layered, complex wine that is something really different in the sauvignon blanc landscape, elegantly and deliciously so.
2016 is the current vintage of The Goose Expression, a Cab-Shiraz blend and great value at under R200 for a seven-year-old, well-matured red.
Also sporting a Platter’s 4*, the blend is bold and complex, juicy with ripe black fruit seasoned with subtle white pepper and herbaceous notes, layers of flavour unfolding in the glass, Shiraz’s velvety texture underpinned with the firmness of the cabernet sauvignon component, and a mouthwateringly fresh finish.
Cabernet sauvignon and Shiraz are also produced as single varietals (R125 each), the Shiraz with typical cool-climate purity on the flavours of ripe red fruit, blackcurrant and spicy undertones (the Cab not tasted, but promises elegant opulence and complexity).
Wine tasting at The Goose incorporates an opportunity to practice your golf swing at the Altitude T-Box while sipping on wine and enjoying the panoramic views over vineyards, mountains and the valley below.
The widely-exported wines are not widely available in the Eastern Cape — though obviously one will find them in several Garden Route outlets.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, Preston’s in Main Rd, Walmer, has the Expression blend in stock at R199.99.
The good news, though, is that the farm will gladly deliver to your door, for free, for orders in full cases (6-bottle) only — pop Lindi Koen an email on admin@thegoosewines.com
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