Wine Tasting and Burgers at Ernie Els Wines

The view from Ernie Els Wines is just absolutely breath-taking. You are surrounded by valleys and hills; mountains and vineyards. From Table Mountain and the Southern Peninsula on your left to the Hottentots-Holland Mountain range on your right, with Stellenbosch and the Simonsberg Mountains right in front you.

The Tasting Venue and its surrounding landscapes and gardens are impeccable and luxurious. (Take a peek into the cellar and view some of Ernie's finest golfing achievements in their Trophy Room.)

This is just the perfect setting for a long lunch preceded by a wine tasting and a Cheese & Charcuterie Platter.

These are their 2 tasting options:

PLAYERS TASTING
This tasting includes 4 wines from the Big Easy and varietal range @ R 40.00 per person.

MAJOR TASTING
This tasting includes 4 wines from the Ultra-premium range @ R 60.00 per person.

Big Easy by Ernie Els

The 2016 Big Easy Chenin Blanc is loaded with ripe mandarin and lime on the nose, leading to notes of early spring jasmine and cling peaches. The tropical palate is richly textured with hints of wild herbs and Indian spice, adding complexity and good depth. It is medium-bodied and unhindered by oak giving a lively fruit structure and soft and easy finish.

The crystalline-pink Big Easy Rosé 2016 is a melange of Shiraz and Cinsaut and offers a classically dry and yet fun style. The nose abounds with notes of crunchy strawberries, cherry and subtle black-currants. The palate is fresh and tangy but still delivers a savoury edge and long creamy finish.

The great vintage of 2015 gives the Big Easy Cabernet Sauvignon a slightly more serious side. Rich and elegant with notes of luxury dark chocolate, cinnamon spice and ripe plums fill the glass. The palate is dark fruited, medium to full-bodied and is complemented by hints of dried herbs and salty liquorice. Finely etched tannins contrast juicy fruit and provide good structure and a layered finish.

The sublime and lively 2015 vintage shines through in perhaps the best Big Easy yet. A melange of ripe Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is layered with waves of Grenache, Cinsaut, Mourvèdre and a touch of Viognier. Quite perfumed and fittingly complex, the palate is lined with chocolate, spice and confectionary cherries. A peppery nuance adds further character, all framed by a fine structure and juicy core. Ready to drink, its long chalky finish will assist its 5 years ageing potential.

The Proprietor's Range

The Proprietors Syrah 2014 is a hedonistic expression, showing baked plums, bacon-fat and a hint of cinnamon.Sweetly fruited throughout, the mid-palate is elegant and yet powerful offering a contemporary, luxurious style with rich intensity and depth. Notes of peppered salami and goji berries are wound around fruit-laden tannins and well integrated oak. Irresistible now, time will offer more savoury complexity and silky length.

The distinctive Proprietors Blend is bold and invigorating from start to finish. This Bordeaux blend with the addition of Shiraz offers a balance of seamless structure and elegant generosity. Notes of sweet black and blueberry coulis dance on the nose, and with time, floral aromatics are coaxed from the glass. Medium to full bodied, the intense cherry-laced core finishes with a whiff of mint and dried provencal herbs.

The 2014 Proprietor’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect reflection of a great Stellenbosch vintage. It has a pitch black core with a deeply rich hue, leading to a nose that dazzles with vanilla, blackberry, liquorice and cherry. A touch of cedar spice add refined depth and complexity, all coated by incredibly fine, chalky tannins. Brooding in its youth, there is an aristocratic feel to its long, silky and powerful finish. Well enjoyed over the next decade.

The Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style blend shows an intensely purple rim and deep crimson core, leading to impressive concentration and startling depth. Nuances of fig jam, cigar box and meat spice slowly arise from the glass, complemented by ripe red cherries and a hint of fine milk chocolate. The palate is supported by ultra-fine,layered tannins that are seemingly wrapped in mixed red berry fruits. Pure and elegant, the finish lingers with juicy cassis and a salty, mineral tail.

Then it was time for lunch! During the wine tasting I saw the waiters serving these massive burgers to some of the other guests.I could not resist it and ordered the same.

The recipe for the Ernie Els Tower Burger was apparently changed just the week before my visit. It is now two beef patties topped with, white Edam, Mozzarella, pickled cucumber, crispy onions and home made tomato sauce served with hand cut chips. Needles to say I was not disappointed. There is also a dry aged beef sirloin on the menu for which I will definitely have to go back for.