More than a new season, September brings us Spring, the most optimistic time of the year with the promise of new life and longer days. On La Motte Wine Estate in the Franschhoek Valley, the age-old oaks and vineyards are sprouting with enthusiastic bright greens, while the Proteas and Cape Snow Bush plants are in spectacular bloom.
In South Africa, it is also Heritage month and with the promise of the new, comes the opportunity to celebrate the country’s colourful heritage and traditions. The flowering fynbos on the slopes of the Wemmershoek mountains celebrates the estate’s natural heritage, while culinary heritage is top of the agenda in the La Motte artisanal bakery, the JAN Franschhoek food & wine experience as well as with new vintage releases of the estate-grown 2023 La Motte Chardonnay and 2020 La Motte Syrah.
The La Motte Artisanal Bakery
The La Motte Artisanal Bakery is all about bread and celebrating this humble product’s rich heritage as a staple food. When made with quality flour and yeasts as well as traditional methods of slow fermentation, bread is not only wholesome and delicious, but even an affordable luxury! To celebrate the everyday beauty of bread as part of our heritage, the La Motte team asked Ilse van der Merwe to help them reimagine a few local street food favourites, using bread from the La Motte Bakery. Follow the links for the newly interpreted recipes of the Gatsby, Kota, Bunny Chow and Braaibroodjie.
Wednesday to Sunday for breakfast, brunch, lunch and a variety of tempting treats.
Hours: 08:00 to 16:00. The kitchen closes at 15:00, but guests are welcome to enjoy afternoon drinks until 16:00.
Contact:
T: +27 (0)21 876 8825
E: bakery@la-motte.co.za
JAN Franschhoek Season III
Spring is also the start of a new season of JAN Franschhoek! Season III confirms Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s wonderful ability to combine the nostalgia of a South African family table with global culinary trends and innovation, to offer guests a journey through food and wine that is both familiar and adventurous. Guests are welcomed to the historic and charming Veepos cottage on La Motte and invited to take a place at the generous 18-seater table for a food and wine experience that celebrates heritage in an unforgettable manner!
For dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, (4 September 2024 - 30 April 2025). The experience starts with a welcome in the La Motte Manor House at 18:30 and dinner begins promptly at 19:00.
On Sundays, the Jan Franschhoek food and wine experience is in the form of an extended lunch. Commencing at 12:30, guests are welcomed in the La Motte Manor House from 12:00.
Contact:
T 021 876 9115
E jan.franschhoek@la-motte.co.za
New Vintage Releases
Wine makers and wine writers often get excited about wine being site specific, but for those who enjoy drinking the wine, it is important that the terroir relates to taste. La Motte’s trusted pair of Syrah and Chardonnay are made exclusively from Franschhoek grapes and you can taste it.
“La Motte’s terroir contributes a beautiful creaminess and drinkability – even at a young age”, says La Motte Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche.
The recently released 2023 La Motte Chardonnay combines this smooth character with refreshing citrus fruit –typical for white wine varieties grown on the estate. The Chardonnay vineyard on La Motte was planted in 1997. It lies 200 metres above sea-level, against a southern and south-western slope and is planted in Clovelly soils.
The wine’s nectarine and citrus fruit flavours are complemented by hints of cashew nut and freshly-baked bread. Barrel fermentation of 90% of the juice are well considered with only 20% new French oak, contributing to a polished, medium-full wine with exceptional freshness and a lively length.
“I believe Franschhoek Chardonnay has that special X-factor”, says Edmund. “The recognisable lime, citrus and cashew nut on the nose, a creamy texture with minerality on the palate and a lingering follow through. And as a tribute to the French Huguenot heritage of the area, Franschhoek Chardonnay often offers that oatmeal character some of the best French examples are known for.”
The 2023 La Motte Chardonnay is available online or at the cellar door for R170 per bottle.
The 2020 La Motte Syrah is also a true expression of its Franschhoek terroir with micro-climates from the mountain slopes and valley floors adding complexity to the wine’s elegant character. Edmund explains: “Syrah from Franschhoek contains a natural fruitiness that includes red berries and mulberry. The light soils complement the more elegant style that we enjoy making and we add 10% of Durif to contribute to the wine’s colour and texture.”
The 2020 La Motte Syrah has all this fruitiness and elegance as well as some black pepper spice contributed by some of the vineyard blocks well-exposed to shade. Still delayed by Covid restrictions on wine sales, rather than the regular 14 months, the 2020 vintage spent 24 months in 100% new, 300 litre French oak barrels. The new oak and extended barrel maturation resulted in intense flavours, but typically La Motte, they are well integrated with bright red fruit and a creamy texture to the finish.
The Syrah vineyards on La Motte are between 10 and 30 years old, are situated between 200 and 300 metres above sea-level and are spread over different blocks with varying soil profiles. The soil is of a sandstone and granite origin and varies from a heavier texture along the slopes to a sandy and well-drained in the valley.
The 2020 La Motte Syrah is available online or at the cellar door for R200 per bottle.
Both wines are extremely versatile when it comes to the dinner table – another characteristic they share with the Franschhoek Valley, renowned for its exceptional culinary heritage.
September Promotion:
During September, purchases of any 6 bottles of the 2020 La Motte Syrah and 2023 La Motte Chardonnay, qualify for 10% off. Offer available from the La Motte Tasting Room or la-motte.com
