Hello Everyone!
Wine from South Africa is the feature of this Saturday's release. We are not huge fans of wine from this part of the world. More often than not the wine is tainted with brett – brettanomyces – a bacteria that gives wine a "band-aid" aroma/flavour or an earthy, creosote, stable type of aroma that we find most unpleasant.
Many of South Africa's wine making facilities are tainted with the bacteria and its proliferation continues despite concerted effort to abate it's spread. The jury is out on the desirability of brett's presence. Some believe that brett is the natural result of simple winemaking and others believe that it is an unattractive wine fault resulting from sloppy winemaking practices. We are in the latter camp and consequently much of what was present in the tasting room from South Africa didn't get past the initial nosing component of the tasting. This is not to say that all wine from South Africa is undesirable. Our favourite producer is Boekenhoutskloof (love the name!) and unfortunately the wines from this house are too dear to make it on the Vintages Value List. OK – enough blather on our dislikes. Here are this week's top picks:
RED WINE
79608 Domaine de L'Hortus Bergerie Classique Pic Saint Loup 2006 (Languedoc, FR) $17.95
Peppery, dry and full of bursting fruit flavour. Old world style. Blend = Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre.
427617 Chateau de Nages Reserve 2005 (Rhone, FR) $14.95
A meaty quaffer with a strong currant nose – full-bodied for sure!
14696 Raimat Tempranillo/Shiraz 2005 (Spain) $14.95
It's quite dark and dry – an interesting blend that calls out for grilled sausages or dark meat.
56267 Remo Farina Vigna Montecorna Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso 2004 (Veneto, Italy) $19.95
A great tasting wine with black cherry, chocolate and coffee notes. It's rather "large" in nature – not a lighter valpolicella at all!
WHITE WINE
82305 Domaine Bellevue Touraine Sauvignon 2006 (Loire, FR) $13.95
A classic herbaceous, asparagus-driven sauv. blanc. Good value here!
ALP
Karen & Rose
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