Spit or Swallow at Haute Cabrière

Total Swallows 492	Rated by 71	Avg Swallows 6.93

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Tell us about your experience at Haute Cabrière

Reviewed by Emmy Schofield - 11 February 2013 at 12:59

Novice Winefly - 0 farms visited and 1 reviewed.

I’m a huge fan of their MCCs, so wanted to do a tasting at the farm. The people we were with wanted to try the wines instead, but for some (ridiculous) reason, they insisted that we all had to do the same tasting. For “continuity” apparently – pathetic!
Sadly have to agree with the posts below about the staff too. Not all interested and highly condescending. We were told we were not ‘allowed’ to do different tasting. Sorry? The guy behind the bar then wandered off and came back a few minutes later, and asked what our decision was. To leave, thanks! He shrugged his shoulders and watched us leave. With +- 4000 labels on the market in SA, I can go else where.
Excellent way of making sure I NEVER support them ever again!

Reviewed by Graham Cursons - 2 May 2011 at 07:25

Casual Winefly - 8 farms visited and 10 reviewed.

Like Stefan’s comment below, I enjoyed the experience. Just wish they would redo their bathrooms… Beautiful presentation of bought product.

Reviewed by Stefan Van Steenberge - 10 March 2011 at 23:46

Casual Winefly - 43 farms visited and 12 reviewed.

Unlike most of the comments I read here we had a good experience.
Helpful young man, you could tell he was talking about the MCCs with passion.
Opened up a bottle of Special Reserve (usually not up for tasting)

Also he didn’t care about the ‘pay R30 drink 5wines’. We tasted 9 and paid half price for the tasting.
Good Blanc de Blanc MCC and nice to try the Special Reserve.
I was at Steenberg the week before and both their MCCs beat the Jourdan wines hands down though.

Reviewed by Jan Langenhoven - 9 January 2011 at 20:21

Super Winefly - 245 farms visited and 190 reviewed.

Realy crap tasting . Assistant’s all call their MCC , Champange. Please train your people corect. This place is like a Circus. Realy a disgrace for Franschhoek. Bondy on till realy out there.

Reviewed by Diana Procter - 9 January 2011 at 19:42

Super Winefly - 257 farms visited and 165 reviewed.

I can’t understand the hype: tjhe wines and MCCs (not Champagne-equivalents as the tasting room assistants call it) are not great. It’s all about bus tours and bullshit, quite frankly.

Reviewed by Jacques Weidemann - 6 September 2010 at 20:43

Firefly - 196 farms visited and 146 reviewed.

I really dont think any of their wines are that good, the pinot noir will probably work well on a hot summer’s day, chilled, satisfying you’re craving for red wine

Reviewed by Cara Lewis - 20 August 2010 at 09:26

Discoverer Winefly - 59 farms visited and 16 reviewed.

Lovely wines, great experience and superb Chardonnay/Pinot Noir! Friendly staff and tiny bubbles so divine, make me happy, make me feel fine!

Reviewed by Les Calderwood - 17 August 2010 at 14:33

Casual Winefly - 22 farms visited and 15 reviewed.

I’m not a big exponent of a sparkling wine ,although the ladies loved them. The Pinot Noir is excellent ! I must say though that Matthew Gordon is a fabulous Chef. I also loved his beautiful food at the Pearl Valley South African Open Hospitality .”World Class” So it’s no surprise that customers love the restaurant.
I also just happen to know first hand that he runs a clean and efficient Kitchen.
Yes, some of the wines are expensive but let’s face it on a like for like basis ‘French Champagne’ is extortion!
Conclusion: Big Bonus Matthew Gordon’s Restaurant and I love the Pinot Noir

Reviewed by Jean-Louis Açafrão - 30 June 2010 at 18:32

Novice Winefly - 3 farms visited and 3 reviewed.

Great friendly staff…excellent restaurant on a rainy day when the fire is placing. Arnim Sauvignon Rouge is particularly good to drink right away.

Reviewed by Francia Bothma - 24 June 2010 at 13:26

Novice Winefly - 0 farms visited and 1 reviewed.

A comment from a customer of Haute Cabriere on 17 June 2010.

Remember our visit to you last Thursday, 17 June. Because there were so many of us it was not possible to thank you personally but may I now do that electronically. I found you to be a thoroughly charming and very knowledgeable guide and when I return sometime in the future with my wife we shall make a point of visiting”Haute Cabriere” and maybe cracking a bottle or two. Kind Regards, Steve Wagstaffe

Reviewed by Wessel Badenhorst - 27 May 2010 at 13:33

Casual Winefly - 46 farms visited and 24 reviewed.

Red wines have bland taste. Sparkling wines excellent. Very nice brandy. Beautiful tasting room, fireplace, warm and cosy.

Reviewed by Claudine Toit - 17 May 2010 at 16:23

Casual Winefly - 20 farms visited and 11 reviewed.

Over priced and pretentious. Staff treat you like your presence interrupts their day. I wouldn’t go back here and as a result I’m not keen to buy their wine

Reviewed by Maggie Mostert - 16 May 2010 at 21:10

Firefly - 222 farms visited and 197 reviewed.

Went there to taste and learn. Got served by a bar maid instead. Enough said.

Reviewed by Jan Langenhoven - 16 May 2010 at 18:34

Super Winefly - 245 farms visited and 190 reviewed.

Over priced.

Reviewed by Amorie Loots - 26 March 2010 at 13:13

Casual Winefly - 18 farms visited and 18 reviewed.

Boy oh boy… if you want to observe a whispering tasting assistant measuring drops (literally) into tasting glasses please visit Cabriere, but if you want to experience a cozy, informative, value for money tasting (tasting is expensive) please choose somewhere else. We drove all the way from Cape Town to visit Cabriere and what a disappointment.

Reviewed by Hennie Coetzee - 19 March 2010 at 22:10

Super Winefly - 249 farms visited and 185 reviewed.

I can agree with Mark Pryce here – I was there on a quiet Friday afternoon and the attendant (barmaid) just poured us wine and left. Fortunately I’ve been to tastings where Takuan von Arnim or Achim himself hosted and they made the experiences interesting. The MCC’s are fantastic – although I must say the recent releases of the Cuvee Belle Rose had a disappointing bitterness to it. The Brut Savage and the Blanc de Blanc still great however. Also the fantastic Pinot Noir never disappoints. If you can get it try the 2004 Pinot.

Reviewed by Mark Pryce - 5 November 2009 at 10:09

Discoverer Winefly - 71 farms visited and 68 reviewed.

Nice cozy setting. Dissapointed that even when it is quiet that the hosts stay tucked behind their counter

Reviewed by Francois Malan - 31 October 2009 at 14:05

Discoverer Winefly - 63 farms visited and 10 reviewed.

The cellar tour and tasting is definately one not to be missed, one of the highlights in Franschhoek

Reviewed by Garreth Flynn - 13 October 2009 at 15:47

Discoverer Winefly - 57 farms visited and 33 reviewed.

I still giggle like a 11 year old schoolgirl when I drink the Chardonnay/Pinot Noir – and i’m a 32 year old man!! This is certainly a wine that encompasses terroir and the western cape in a glass!? One of my favorites in world!!

Reviewed by Marion Lille - 6 September 2009 at 18:37

Explorer Winefly - 103 farms visited and 22 reviewed.

I’m sad to say, but I was vey disappointed by this cellar. They let me down in every imaginable way.
Firstly, the tasting. There were three tasting assistants and the place was not busy, yet they refuse to come away from behind the counter to serve you at the tables, so you keep having to go back to the counter to have your next pouring. If you don’t want to serve people at the tables, why do you have them? Also, R30 to taste five wines is a bit steep.
Secondly, the wines. I guess I could have justified the tasting fee if the wines were any good. None of their Cap Classiques stood out. They all tasted bland and watery. I really expected more from a cellar that specializes in Cap Classique. I made the mistake of tasting all four and could then only choose one other wine to taste. Unfortunately I chose the Tranquille, which is basically a cap classique that did not undergo the second fermentation and thus do not have bubbles. It was sweet and tasteless.
I’m not going back there again.

Reviewed by Monica Mountjoy - 25 June 2009 at 14:44

Novice Winefly - 2 farms visited and 3 reviewed.

Great Tasting. Sadly Achim was not there but his son Toukwan was equally as entertaining. The Sabrage made my day!

Reviewed by Andrew Chigorimbo - 17 May 2009 at 15:13

Secret Winefly - 380 farms visited and 305 reviewed.

great tasting there. friendly lady there allowed us to do a sobrage(hope my spelling is right)

Reviewed by Madame de Wyn - 4 May 2009 at 08:09

Secret Winefly - 361 farms visited and 456 reviewed.

The man who thought of specializing in Method Cap Classique and Pinot Noir must be a genius! I don’t think there can ever be too much of either.

We were privileged to meet the Cellar Master, Takuan von Arnim. He conducted their world famous cellar tour, which was probably the most interesting cellar tour ever. Takuan made use of a famed French cavalry sabre, to open bottle after bottle of Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique. Some brave guests had the opportunity to chop of some heads as well. I tried the method a bit later and I must say, easy as pie man!

We enjoyed an awesome lunch at the cozy Haute Cabrière Cellar Restaurant. Apart from the amazing food, we were treated to some 1999 Pinot Noir. Pure magic!

Great service, amazing host and fantastic wine, all contributed to a extremely memorable experience!

Reviewed by Madame de Wyn - 3 May 2009 at 16:19

Secret Winefly - 361 farms visited and 456 reviewed.

Sun, Soil, Vine, Man.

Reviewed by Jan Laubscher - 3 May 2009 at 11:41

Master Winefly - 332 farms visited and 48 reviewed.

Had an absolute wonderful time here. Went on the wine cellar tour and it’s definitely worth the R40

Reviewed by Richard Ferraris - 5 March 2009 at 13:11

Casual Winefly - 0 farms visited and 287 reviewed.

I’m a great lover of the Haute Cabriere Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend. The buttery texture compliments the fruity nose to perfection. I’d also recommend the Cuvee Brut, it’s a good bubbly for a special occasion.

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