VIVE LA FRANCE!
Everyone in the know descends upon Franschhoek, the French quarter, in mid-July to celebrate the French national day. The Bastille Festival takes place in Franschhoek over the weekend of the 16th and 17th July but at Boschendal we start earlier on Friday the 14th July, Bastille Day itself, and go on until Monday 18th July. Enjoy the festive mood created by an accordionist playing French music and staff dressed in costume, and savour wonderful French provençal dishes served at the Buffet Restaurant and Le Café.
Named after Nicolas de Lanoy, one of the two original owners of Boschendal, the wine represents the best of the Huguenot wine-making tradition introduced at the Cape by Lanoy and his French countrymen in the late 17th century.
Lanoy is a key red wine in the Boschendal range. Established over 25 years ago, it is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 12% Shiraz. Each component is fermented separately and then blended: for example the Cabernet ferments at 28-30° C with 14 days skin contact while Merlot ferments at 28° C with 10 days skin contact. For all three varieties, remontage, or the pump-over method is used to extract colour during the wine-making process. 25% of the wine is matured in new French oak barrels and the balance, in second and third-fill barrels, for one year.
The result is a wine with 14.9% alcohol, 6.5 acidity, 2.9 sugar and 3.41 pH. Apart from its technical credentials, Lanoy is extremely good to drink with a smooth texture, firm tannins and a lingering aftertaste evocative of cigars and exotic spices. It goes well with roasts, casseroles and hard cheeses, all of which are served on Boschendal Restaurant's renowned six course buffet.
On the new winter menu at Le Café there are several dishes that would do justice to a glass or two of Lanoy. For starters try the whole deep-fried Brie topped with pecan nuts and dried figs caramelised in a cranberry sauce, followed by foccacia filled with two lamb kebabs served with tzatziki for the main course. Be tempted to end with the piéce de resistance - Belgian chocolate and pecan nut torte - for dessert!
Make a warm start to a winter's day by joining us for brunch at Le Café from 10am onwards. There is a choice of omelette filled with smoked trout, onion, chives and dill or with bacon, mushroom, tomato and cheese. For those who would prefer a sophisticated retake on a local favourite, try mielie fritters and bacon served with banana chutney.
Coming up in August are two celebrations at Boschendal: Women's Day 9th August 2005 and the Mid-Winter Feast 19-22 August 2005. To avoid disappointment book now!
Please note that the Boschendal complex will be closed on Youth Day, Thursday 16th June 2005. Remember too the annual Bastille Festival Thursday 14th - Monday 18th July, when Boschendal staff don their revolutionary apparel and serve you provincial French cuisine!
Reservations:
Email: reservations@boschendal.com
Tel: +27 (0) 21 870 4272/3/4/5
Fax: +27 (0) 21 874 2137
