Bouchard Finlayson Tutored Tasting 15 August 2017

Bouchard Finlayson recently hosted a Tutored Tasting at Open Wine in Wale Street (Cape Town), showcasing Hannibal, its unique red blend of Italian varietals, with vintages ranging from 2002 to 2011.

In this exciting blind tasting, Hannibal was up against two Italian wines (Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Fiore 2006 and Tenute Silvio Nardi Turan 2011), as well as a locally produced Sangiovese from Idiom, and a Nebbiolo from Morgenster. These two cultivars form the cornerstone of Hannibal, alongside Pinot noir, Shiraz, Mourvédre and Barbera.

Bouchard Finlayson has to date, produced 17 vintages of this unique red blend. Winemaker Chris Albrecht said at the Tasting that the name Hannibal was adopted as a symbolic expression of the synergy with the African elephant participating in linking the winelands of France and Italy together two thousand years ago under the invading command of the classic Carthaginian general.

Recently, the 2014 vintage of Hannibal received excellent ratings both locally and internationally when Neal Martin of Robert Parker’s the Wine Advocate, scored it at 91 points, after it received 93 points from James Suckling last year; and 92 points in the Tim Atkin SA 2016 Report. The wine was also honoured with inclusion in the prestigious SA Sommeliers Selection in 2016.

Tintswalo Safari Lodge Grant Suite

Tintswalo Safari Lodge has added to its portfolio of ‘Explorer Suites’ with the launch of a new two-bedroom family suite in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, bordering the Kruger National Park. Aimed at families and friends travelling together, the new Grant Suite is connected to the main lodge by a raised wooden walkway that winds through the bush. It offers two en-suite bedrooms with lavish bathrooms, and a spacious lounge with private deck and a large plunge pool overlooking the wilderness.

Designed in the style of a villa to provide guests with a comfortable ‘home-away-from-home’, the Grant Suite includes luxury accommodation, all meals served at the main lodge, house drinks, two private game drives per day in a private game-viewing vehicle with a dedicated tracker and guide, as well as complimentary Wifi and laundry, at a set rate of R43 160 per night for the unit (valid until 30 November 2017).

Accommodating children from the age of 9 and older in the Grant Suite, Tintswalo Safari Lodge offers a tailor-made children’s programme, which aims to provide young visitors with a fun, educational perspective of the African bush. Daily themes focus on different educational aspects of the bush, ranging from South Africa and the Shangaan Culture, to tracking and stargazing – with each theme consisting of a talk, game drive and an exciting activity.

Each of Tintswalo Safari Lodge’s suites have been designed to evoke the colonial adventures of the 19^th century explorers after which they are named. The new Grant suite takes its name from James Augustus Grant, a Scottish explorer of Africa who spent much of his time traversing the continent with the renowned John Hanning Speke, in search of the elusive source of the Nile – every explorer’s ‘holy grail’ quest. Grant was known for his commitment to Speke’s voyage, his loyalty, and his resilience during challenging times.