Chasseur sauce takes me back to my hotel training days at the Kyalami Ranch Hotel in Johannesburg. As an apprentice chef in the kitchen I used to enjoy preparing this sauce and envied the guests who would be savouring it with their steak. Generally steak requires a heavier more full bodied red wine and either a good Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet based blend will do the trick nicely. However having said that it is nice to try something a little more interesting and also we had to consider the richness of the Chasseur sauce!

A relation of Cabernet Sauvignon is Cabernet Franc which is slightly lighter in body and the tannins are not so harsh, but when blended with a rich, fleshy and velvety Merlot it makes a delicious wine! These two examples we shared with friends while enjoying the menu above and it was thumbs up for both wines!

Wildekrans Cabernet Franc/ Merlot 2005 — R45.00 As you drive down the steep pass heading towards Bot River on your way to Hermanus, you will see patches of vineyards in the far distance. These belong to the Wildekrans Estate where dentist turned winemaker, Bruce Elkin, produces his quality wines. Crimson red hues shine brightly from the glass when pouring this elegant wine which imparts fresh strawberries and raspberries on the nose which lead onto the palate. The tannin and fruit balance of the wine harmonises so well with the steak.

Ridgeback Merlot /Cabernet Franc 2004 — R70.00 Ex Zimbabian tobacco trader, Vernon Cole and his family, have now laid down their roots on this pretty wine farm tucked away at the foot of the Agter Paarl ridge. Their dynamic winemaker, Cathy Marshall, is producing world class wines and the numerous awards received are proof of this! Produced from five-year-old vineyards and benefiting from 16 months maturation in French oak barrels, the wine is full-bodied with firm tannin structure. On the palate we picked up layers of mulberries, ripe plums with a touch of spice and chocolate on the long lasting finish. And with the steak chasseur... mmmmh!

To order these wines, or for advice on wine pairings, contact Wine Concepts.

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