It’s almost time for the 2010 Bastille Festival and this year’s festival promises to be everything last year’s was and more. Taking place, in Franschhoek, on Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th of July 2010 the Bastille Festival is definitely one of the highlights of the Franschhoek Festival Calendar.

Le Quartier Français, Bread & Wine and Môreson will all be in attendance and they’ll have the following delicious dishes and wines on offer.

Le Quartier Français
Mademoiselle Lamb Burger Junior (she last made an appearance at the 2009 MCC Festival)
Brownies
Donuts.

Bread & Wine

Flatbread with a delicious topping (always excellent and a Franschhoek Festival favourite)
Gourmet Hotdog
Filled Focaccias
Tina’s Fudge.

Môreson

They will be showcasing their Miss Molly range of wines – including the new Miss Molly Bubbly – which means that a percentage of each bottle sold will be donated to the South African Guide Dog Association for the Blind.

We participated in the tasting of the De Toren blends for the Fusion V 2009 Directors blend. This blend will be released in 2011.

There were a total of 12 guests at the tasting. Each guests was given two flights of seven blends, a score sheet, a pencil and a spittoon.

The first five wines were relatively easy to score but after these I started to battle. I had to focus and work hard not to find and identify the same characters in each wine. Given that we were working with the five bordeaux blends this was very challenging.

At the end of the process we were asked to rate our top three blends and our least favourite blend. The combined scores (provided by the 12 guests) were saved and the process was repeated in Johannesburg and Durban. The two overall top scoring wines will be the ones that are released in 2011.

By the end of this tasting I had earned myself a set of purple stained teeth, spittoon back-splash in my left eye, a myriad of flavours swirling around my mouth and huge respect for those that taste professionally. It’s definitely not easy work!

The day finished off with a perfectly paired menu – created by Margot – where the Fusion V 2002 and the Z 2004 were highlighted; and then I was introduced to a rum … I am not a rum drinker. I have always associated rum with hooligans but I have been converted.

Pyrat Rum XO Reserve, a sipping rum from Jamaica that – with each sip – makes you think of secluded tropical island beaches, hot sun and a sexy waiter bringing on the cocktails.

Môreson will be launching their new look Méthode Cap Classique at this years Franschhoek Champagne Festival. We’re one of the few groups of people who’ve been permitted a sneak peak and we can no longer contain our delight … the new Môreson Cap Classique labels, and new packaging, are gorgeous!

If you’re at the 2009 Franschhoek Champagne Festival you can pick up a case of six, or three cases of six, from the charming and rather cute Môreson crew. There will also be a whole lot of other Cap Classique and Champagne available for tasting. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Franschhoek Information website.

* The new look Môreson Cap Classique is the first addition to the 2009 hand-selected Le Quartier Français stocking filler list.

On Friday the 4th of December 2009 check into Le Quartier Français, for R1250 per person*. This price includes a Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival ticket and your first delectable Mlle Lamb Burger.

To book please email us – res@lqf.co.za

We look forward to seeing you next weekend for some serious bubbly fun!

*Bed and breakfast included. Terms and conditions apply.

Mademoiselle Lamb Burger, the very tasty niece of Lamb Burger (may he rest in peace), will be attending this years Franschhoek Champagne Festival. She’s not quite as big as Lamb Burger but she’s just as delicious.

Mademoiselle Lamb Burger generally doesn’t do public appearances. In fact the 2009 Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival is her first and for that reason those attending should consider themselves very lucky!

If you’d like to meet and eat Mademoiselle Lamb Burger you will find her at the Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival Le Quartier Français stand on Friday the 4th, Saturday the 5th and Sunday 6th of December.

The Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival will be taking place over the weekend of 4th, 5th and 6th of December. If the last few years are anything to go by it’s going to be phenomenal!

The Magic of Bubbles is the most vivacious festival in the Franschhoek Festival Calendar. Here the best South African Méthode Cap Classique and French Champagne flow freely and excellent cuisine – prepared by top local restaurants (including us and Bread & Wine) – keeps the hunger at bay.

The Franschhoek Champagne Festival is a great opportunity to see what the local méthode cap classique producers are up to. One of our favourites – Môreson – will be launching something really exciting. We can’t wait for the festival to arrive!

The new Le Quartier Français winelist is set for release on the 1st of December 2009.

At Le Quartier Français our goal – regarding the new winelist – was to create a winelist experience as phenomenal as our other experiences.

We’ve worked at changing our approach to wine selection and I’ve started to place a greater emphasis on terroir, and it’s effect on the various wines I’ve selected for the new Le Quartier Français winelist. If you have a look, through the new winelist, you’ll find a really spectacular selection of great terroir-reflecting wines.

What’s more our new wine list also offers  an even more extensive range of wines-by-the-glass than before.

Picture courtesy of Rennett Stowe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsaint/2616557989/)

Margot and I recently took part in an invitation only tasting with Eben Sadie. He only does four a year – at the family farm so – it’s not the type of invite any wine lover says no to!

Eben Sadie is a man overflowing with amazing oenological philosophies and remarkable commitment to producing exceptional wines that are both honest and pure. In fact, in this regard, Eben Sadie’s wines take after him.

During the tasting – overlooking the Swartland and Paardeberg – we learned about soils and terroir, both of which are the not-so-secret ingredients of Eben’s magic.

To illustrate the importance of terrior Eben had us taste three Shirazs. All three were farmed using the same methods, same vines and same oak. The only difference was the soil.

The three Shiraz’s were all totally different – everything from their colour to their flavour and texture was unique to that particular wine. This was the first time that I’ve really experienced the differentiating effects terroir can have on a wine.

Another first – for me – were Eben’s concrete egg tanks which he imported exlusively for fementing his award-winning Palladuis.  These egg tanks apparently maintain the minerality and the concrete – being natural – keeps the purity in the wine.

Eben, I soon discovered, does not believe in spreadsheets, he dislikes producing “oak soup” and his wines never see a machine. He believes in “capturing a place and locking up time” – which is what he does with his wine.

We got to sample this time capsule wine and my new favourite is the Columella 2006. Here each berry is hand-selected then basket pressed. The beautiful colour, a gorgeous purple hue, and the layers of texture and flavours created a smooth and oh so subtle wine. Phenomenal!

Bellingham have just released their The Bernard Series and I was lucky enough to be led through a full tasting by, none other than, Niël. What an honour!

I tried the whole range and every one is unique and, for lack of more formal terminology, very yummy. The Bernard Series is real food wine; which is such a pleasure and something I hope more wine farms start working into their offerings.

Obviously I had to have a favourite, and my favourite is their Oaked Sauvignon Blanc – Two Thousand & Seven. They actually write out the vintage and I think that this just adds to the label’s overall class. I unfortunately couldn’t find a picture of my favourite so I’ve used the Bernard Series Viognier bottleshot instead. This should give you an idea what to expect from a packaging point of view.

The Bernard Series Sauvignon Blanc grapes are all from one of the oldest single bush vine vineyard blocks, which is situated in Darling.

The first whiff – of the Bernard Series Oaked Sauvignon Blanc – made me go back for a second and third. I really could not get enough of the nose! All grilled asparagus, just like Margot prepares on the braai for us to enjoy our days off. Delicious!

The Bernard Series Oaked Sauvignon Blanc has been in the barrel for a year and the bottle for an additional year. So – hopefully – you can imagine the intense mouth feel, with layer upon layer of fruit and just a subtle touch of vanilla.

Today I head off to the USA where I will be visiting Le Quartier Français friends and contacts; I’ll also be investigating new and emerging trends in the hotel and restaurant world. It promises to be a very exciting trip and I’m going to try keep everyone updated, through this blog, throughout my travels.

On the home front, the weekend of the 10th and 11th of October sees the valley play host to the third annual Franschhoek Uncorked festival. The majority of Franschhoek wine farms use this event to showcase their latest vintages; often choosing to release these vintages at Uncorked. This tradition makes for a tasty weekend!

At Môreson and Bread & Wine Neil Jewell, head chef and South African Charcuterie King, is going to be whipping up a food market of note; and I can guarantee that his famous mussels will definitely be on offer. On the wine front Môreson will be officially introducing their new range Miss Molly wines to the South African public.

Neil enjoying an after work beer.

Then – come mid-October – Linda Coltart, Margot Janse, Annemarie Steenkamp (the Culinary Concierge) and Neil Jewell are going to be visiting Italy. They will be taking part in the TTG INCONRTI PADIGLIONE B1. So you can expect some lovely updates and perhaps (cross your fingers) a few video clips showcasing their adventures.

October 2009, in the Le Quartier Français family, really looks like it’s set to be a delicious month!