Zandvliet Kalkveld Shiraz

You might remember that The Bulls Fan and I recently spent a dreamy weekend in the sleepy town of Montagu - and were thoroughly spoilt at Zandvliet Wines when we were given unreleased bottles of their Chardonnay 2011 and flagship Kalkveld Shiraz 2007. We wasted no time in enjoying the Chardonnay, but I was quite hesitant to open the Shiraz. Before you reach through your screen and slap me, let me explain! I've tasted previous Kalkveld vintages before and they're absolutely beautiful - bold, smoky, spicy, smooth, fruity... everything a Shiraz should be! I cradled the 2007 in my arms and made it a silent promise that I would allow it to sleep in my cellar until it was ready. I swore not to disturb it for at least 3 to 5 years. Well, that promise only lasted about two weeks, when The Bulls Fan insisted that I "stop being ridiculous" and enjoy the beautiful wine we'd been given. I'm so glad I did.

It was a beautiful, calm Friday evening when we grabbed the Kalkveld and took the short walk to our favourite pizzeria, Da Vinci's, in Harfield Village. We were lucky enough to get one of only two outside tables, overlooking the gloriously busy street - I've never been to the likes of Italy and France, with their culture of bustling pavement eateries, but I felt as though I could be anywhere in Europe.

Given that we were drinking Shiraz, I needed to order a pizza that would stand up to it - strong, bold, earthy and spicy flavours. Apart from serving consistently high quality pizzas, Da Vinci's offer yet another hook for a foodie like me - you can order half-and-half pizzas. That's right, if you manage to narrow the choice down to two, and you still cannot choose, you can have half of each on the same pizza! It's a brilliant option and I've always taken advantage of it. Looking at the menu, it was clear what I would be ordering - one half Spicy Chorizo, Black Mushrooms and Fresh Tomato and Onion Salsa, and the other Bacon, Roquefort and Fig. I couldn't have picked a better pairing! Juicy fruits simply jumped off the nose of the Kalkveld, with an enticing mocha and chocolate background. After it had a chance to breathe, the palate was rich and full, with delicious spice, going especially well with the chorizo and mushrooms. It's a serious Shiraz, drinking beautifully at the moment (and most especially when enjoyed with food), but would obviously also only benefit from a few year's cellaring. The service and food were excellent, and the wine was definitely the luscious cherry on top of a wonderful evening!