Winter may be nearing its end here at Londolozi, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t still space for a lovely full bodied red wine. We have just added a beautiful Merlot led wine to our list, Môreson Mata Mata, and of course it hails from a family owned and run South African wine farm.
What makes this even more special is that there is actually a direct family link to the Londolozi family. Môreson is owned and run by the Friedman family with Nikki Friedman at the helm, she is the niece of Nikki Taylor who is married to Allan Taylor who is the grandson of Frank Unger who together with Charles Varty purchased the Sparta farm on which Londolozi stands today.
Môreson, Afrikaans for the Morning Sun, is based in Franschhoek and was purchased by Nikki Friedman’s grandfather, affectionately known as Papa. Just over 20 years ago, he sold the farm to his son, Richard, and the Friedman family set about transforming the land into the farm it is today. They stopped sending their grapes to the local co-op and turned the dilapidated shed on the farm into a winery. Richard, his wife and Klaas (the gardener) were the original wine making team. As demand for their wines grew so did the winery. Today the tasting room on the farm is what remains of the old Blois farmhouse; the working cellar is made up of two converted sheds with extra add-ons.
The Mata Mata, is a Bordeaux-style blend and is named after the Mata-Mata rest camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari which was one of Richard Friedman’s favourite spots, a beautiful and unpretentious piece of Africa where many family holidays were spent and many fond memories created.
The blend is made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot and has been allowed to mature for 24 months in French oak with the Cabernet Sauvignon component being matured in 100% new French oak barrels for 12 months.
This lovely full-bodied red wine is meaty with notes of cherry, cigar box, and pepper. It will beautifully complement Lamb Racks with Chef Anna’s Red Wine Glaze – a combination of her favourite things, red wine, balsamic vinegar, cardamom, rosemary and butter.
Have you enjoyed any new wines that you would recommend? If you have a South African wine suggestion please share this with us in the comments below, we’d be interested to hear about your favourites.
Written by Kim Drake, Londolozi Procurement and Controls Manager and Sommelier
Photographs courtesy of Môreson Wines and the Friedman family
Lovely blog Kim. Great history behind the wine. The blend sounds awesome. Cant wait to try it.
Thanks Marinda, sure you’ll experience it soon!
Kim you write beautifully!
Thank you for putting together such a beautiful piece about the wine and our farm.
Thanks Nikki, always easy when both the farm and wine are lovely!
A beautiful piece, can’t wait to try this one Kim.
Thanks Kate, it is such a lovely wine as well, we’ll drink it soon!
While ready your post, my thoughts drifted away to the last time I attended a wine paring. It then occurred to me that the pairing usually is made with meat. Do you know if there can be pairings with vegetarian dishes?
Hi Maryke, vegetarian dishes pair wonderfully with wine, even full bodied reds. This wine will pair very nicely with a Aubergine Parmigiana, Cauliflower Gratin or stuffed mushrooms to name a few.
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I love hearing the history Kim…always interesting. I tried this beautiful wine when I was in Franschhoek in 2013 and enjoyed it immensely! Thanks for another great blog!
Thanks Jill, it really is a nice wine and the farm is such a special place to visit in Franschhoek.
Thanks Kim – looking forward to trying this one!
Thanks Ryan, let me know when you’ll be around again and we’ll crack a bottle!
Just found this blog. Got a bottle of Moreson Mata Mata wine I packed into our bush trailer ready to enjoy at Mata Mata in a few weeks time. Excited to try it.