Finding Martin Meinert’s Pinotage on a hotel wine list in this remote place was a
pleasant surprise. We had travelled twelve hours by ferry from Aberdeen to the
Sheltand Isles, north-east of mainland Scotland, to explore the Neolithic stone
circles buildings and tombs that abound there and in the Orkneys.
While waiting
for the ferry that would take us to the Orkneys we had time for lunch at the
Queens Hotel in Lerwick. Lerwick is both the most northerly and most easterly
town in the UK and we were as close to Bergen in Norway as to Aberdeen.
The chef’s special that lunchtime was a fragrant lamb and
chickpea curry. The lamb was local and the accompanying flat bread was
homemade.
The wine, 2007 vintage, had sufficient bottle age to make a
perfect pairing. Dark red, with sleek powerful fruit with a rich finish.
Martin Meinert was winemaker for some of South Africa’s top
wineries, including Vergelegen, before he decided to go it alone. He has a
private winery in the hills at the top of Devon Valley where he makes a range
of wines under his Meinert label. He also partners Ken Forrester with whom he
makes wine. He is the ‘M’ in their iconic ‘The FMC’ Chenin blanc.
For two videos of Martin making this 2007 Pinotage see www.pinotage.org/2007/04/martin-meinert-makes-pinotage-video.html
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| Shetland Isles, May 2013. Crossing a sand bar to the deserted St Ninian's Isle to visit the ruins of St Ninian's Chapel which dates bach to the 12th Century. The sky and sea are blue, the sun is hot but the wind is icy. |
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