In the first of a series of very special offers, our drinks editor Jonathan Ray here describes our recent Spectator Winemaker Lunch with Anthony and Olive Hamilton Russel, as we offer a small parcel of very keenly-priced 2017 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, arguably the finest in all South Africa.
It was a very jolly (and really quite thirsty) bunch of 20 or so readers who gathered together in the Balcon Restaurant of the Sofitel London St. James Hotel a few weeks ago, there to enjoy one of our fabled Spectator Winemaker Lunches.
Hosted by Anthony and Olive Hamilton Russell from South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, near Hermanus in Walker Bay, the lunch was so heavily oversubscribed that we abandoned our usual venue – the Spectator boardroom – and were made more than welcome by the staff at the Balcon, who kindly tucked us out of harm’s way in a delightful semi-private room at one end of the restaurant.
Lunch was pretty darn good, too, with a starter of scallop and avocado mousseline with lobster and brioche; a main course of rare breed pork tenderloin, celeriac gratin, slaw and mustard jus followed by plates of English and French cheeses served with quince jelly.
As for the wines, well, they were stunning.
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