Welcome, my wine adventurers! It has been a while, but I hope you enjoy a more lighter take on my wine-pairing experience… in my kitchen. I miss attending events of this calibre so I had to settle for my own two hands making magic happen. Are you ready to take a waddle through the vineyards of flavor with me? Today, we plunge beak-first into this story of a divine vine and a ducky diner-yes, it is a story that concerns La Motte 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon and a perfectly prepared duck breast. Buckle up, sip back, and enjoy the ride!

A Little Bird Told Me About a Vine: Born under the sun-kissed valleys of Franschhoek, South Africa, a little Cabernet Sauvignon once came into being. This is no ordinary wine; this is La Motte’s 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, so fine it makes a grown man quack.

Why Franschhoek? Because it’s French for ‘Corner’: Franschhoek, situated right in the middle of the Cape Winelands, is not only a nightmare for non-French speakers but also a piece of grape-growing heaven. The terroir of this valley-a mouth-watering blend of stony soils and Cape climate-allows the best to be expressed in the grapes. This landscape gives Cabernet Sauvignon its day in the quite literally finely ripening, like a fine … well, wine.

Duck, Duck, Cab! The wine paired with food is an art. Sometimes it feels as complex as rocket science, only with better beverages involved and no space junk. The last pairing was La Motte’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 with one of my favourite dishes: duck breast, skin rendered down to that perfect crisp. Rich, juicy meat with its fatty, crispy skin found its soulmate in the full-bodied fruit-laden notes of this Cabernet.

Taste Notes, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Duck: The first sip of the wine bursts with blackberry and a hint of oak around your palate, like some dark, mysterious stranger in a masquerade ball. When the duck hits the stage, its rich, savoury perfectly dances with the tannins of the wine in perfect harmony that can only be described as “poultry in motion.”

If you have not tried pairing the magnificent La Motte 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon with a beautifully cooked duck breast, you are missing out on a ‘grape’ opportunity. It’s truly a pairing that brings the best of both worlds together: earthy, robust flavours from Franschhoek’s finest vines and the succulent, savoury delight of duck. Just remember to invite me as you pour yourself a glass and cook up a storm to let the magic unfold.

Until next time, keep your glasses full and your ducks in a row. Cheers to many more unusual quaffing adventures!