Bradgate Syrah (2004)

February 16, 2008 — -

Bradgate Syrah 2004This Bradgate Syrah 2004 from South Africa is quite pungent when first opened and then settles down after decanting. The nose is black licorice while on the palate I taste a variety of juicy plums, bramble, and lilacs. I also detect peppercorns and bay leaves on the finish.

This is a different-tasting Syrah from what I am accustomed. And this is one of the many things I enjoy about wine — new tastes that are challenging to describe — flavors that are complex, yet familiar. The wine mellows beneath the warmth of your hand on the glass and it transforms with the air that it breathes. Cheers!

Posted in Over $10, South African wines, Syrah. 4 Comments »

Simunye Shiraz (2004)

February 6, 2008 — -

Simunye Shiraz 2004This Simunye Shiraz 2004 from South Africa is a delightfully different Shiraz. This is our second or third time to have this wine. The nose is freshly cut wood. On the palate is velvety tannins and exceptional fruit flavors. The finish is luscious and long and has a taste of brush and bramble.

It has been a tough week in our household. Just very long work days and short nights. But, the good news is that it is Wednesday and soon the weekend will be upon us. We are having a storm tonight. The roads were very bad – it took me more than twice as long to drive home tonight. A car in front of me swerved and then did one donut after the other (I think I counted 4 complete 360′s) until finally coming to rest on the right side of the expressway. Glad you didn’t get hit, little red car in front of me!

Posted in Over $10, Shiraz, South African wines. 2 Comments »

Simunye Shiraz (2004)

December 14, 2007 — -

Simunye Shiraz 2004This Simunye Shiraz 2004 from South Africa is delicious and satisfying. In the glass it is a fresh garnet. The nose is freshly-cut wood. In the mouth is a medium-bodied red with supple tannins and explosive fruit flavors. The finish is cedar and bramble. This is a wine that you can’t ignore. Love it!

Tom: This Simunye Shiraz 2004 is big. Its nose is chocolate and coffee. Its taste also has some cherry and vanilla. An intriguing and very drinkable shiraz.

Posted in Over $10, Shiraz, South African wines. Leave a Comment »

Simunye Shiraz (2004)

November 30, 2007 — -

Simunye Shiraz 2004This Simunye Shiraz 2004 from South Africa is quite luscious. In the glass it is a youthful ruby red. The nose is all oak and cedar (like a freshly-built deck). On the palate is lots of fruit — raspberries and blackberries — with structured tannins. The finish is full and rich.

We will have this tonight with a roast beef that I have had cooking at a low temperature for several hours. It is Friday night and we are celebrating!

Posted in Over $10, Shiraz, South African wines. 5 Comments »

Zaràfa Pinotage (2007)

November 18, 2007 — -

Zarafa Pinotage 2007This Zaràfa Pinotage 2007 from South Africa is full bodied, lively, full of berries, smoke, and pepper, with notes of bananas and pineapple. Long lasting on the tongue. We are finishing this bottle, which we opened the other night.

We have had a fabulous weekend getting ready for Thanksgiving. Guests bedrooms are fresh and clean, groceries are purchased, candles are everywhere — we are ready!

Tonight I have made a very simple meal of goulash. I browned hamburger and onions in the cast-iron skillet, added beef broth and chopped tomatoes, brought to a boil, and then added elbow macaroni. We will have this with steamed broccoli. It just seems like an appropriate meal for the Sunday prior to our Thanksgiving feast.

Posted in Pinotage, South African wines, Under $10. 7 Comments »

Seagull Winemaker’s Blend (2004)

August 24, 2007 — -

Seagull Winemaker’s Blend 2004We have reviewed this Seagull Winemaker’s Blend 2004 before but, as always, I do not go back and read my previous post because I know that each time I taste a wine it can be different. This wine is from South Africa and is a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. This is a superb wine and would be completely appropriate for a special occasion. In the glass, it is deep plum and purple. The aroma is vanilla and cherries. I taste dark chocolate, pepper, cherries, and cedar. The flavor lasts a long time — a delightful finish.

We chose this wine because it is a Friday night – woo hoo! It was storming when we opened the wine but now the sky is clearing and we’ll be able to go outside and start the grill for dinner. It is 8:30 so I suppose I should get out there. (We have a habit of extending cocktail hour on Friday nights.) To sum up, this wine is special.

Posted in Blends, Over $10, South African wines. Leave a Comment »

Seagull Winemaker’s Blend 2004 – Stellenbosch

July 27, 2007 — -

Seagull Winemaker’s Blend 2004This Seagull Winemaker’s Blend 2004 from South Africa, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, is rich and satisfying. In the glass, it is deep purple. On the nose is a mix of vanilla and cherries. On the palate is dark chocolate, pepper, and cherries. The finish is wonderful; it is like having a secret sip because it lasts so long. I chose this wine to go with our dinner tonight, which will be a grilled steak with brown rice and grilled asparagus drizzled with olive oil.

Tom: This Seagull Winemaker’s Blend 2004 is a big, chocolaty, tannic red. Very nice plummy fruit flavors. Very, very nice.

Posted in Blends, Over $10, South African wines. 17 Comments »

Fairview Pinotage 2005

May 16, 2007 — -

Fairview Pinotage 2005Our friend Richard told us that he has discovered an excellent pinotage: Fairview Pinotage 2005. Richard mentioned that Pinotage is becoming his favorite varietal and that an advantage of pinotage is that it peaks sooner than other varieties and so a 2005 may be at its peak. We’ll be on the lookout for this.

Posted in Over $10, Pinotage, South African wines. Leave a Comment »

Nederburg Pinotage (2004)

April 6, 2007 — -

Nederburg Pinotage 2004After Richard’s recommendation of Hill and Dale Pinotage, we set out to find one. We did not find his recommendation but did find this South African version by Nederburg. The first sip explodes with fruit, but it feels much different than an Australian fruit-forward red. It has a thinner texture and a woody aftertaste. The aroma is of raspberries and it has a long and satisfying finish. The tastes of vanilla and wood linger long after you swallow. There is something about this that reminds me of the Shady Lane pinot noir that we bought in the Leelanau Penninsula in Northern Michigan. This pinotage is refreshing and bold. Very easy to drink.

Tom: This has an interesting, cabernet-like taste. Tannic. Some berry fruit flavor, but reserved, not jammy. Strong taste of alcohol (13.5%). In some ways a similar taste to the cabs we’ve been drinking, but obviously a different varietal from a different part of the world. We’ll have to look more into pinotage.

Posted in Over $10, Pinotage, South African wines. Leave a Comment »

Hill & Dale Pinotage 2003

March 20, 2007 — -

Our friend Richard wrote us that that he was impressed with a Hill & Dale Pinotage 2003 from South Africa. His notes are: “Earthy, oaky, and really distinctive.”

Richard spotted that The Boston Globe listed this wine as a best value from around the world at under $10. We haven’t tasted it but we will definitely be on the lookout for it.

Posted in Pinotage, South African wines, Under $10. 4 Comments »
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