Soft, supple and layered with ripe dark plum, these gorgeous Merlot will be the perfect addition to your wine rack. We’ll start in France with Joseph Castan’s ultra-smooth example. You’ve two stars from Down Under: Bob Berton’s All Out and Sam Trimboli’s Barossa Yarrunga Field. The Patriots from Chile is a firm customer favourite and completing the line-up is a Merlot Malbec from South Africa and a super-smooth treat from Portugal.
Cape Breeze Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc 2009
Ken Forrester Wines is to South African Chenin Blanc what Cloudy Bay is to New Zealand Sauvignon: widely regarded as the best. Ken started his career in the hotel industry. By 1993, he and his wife Teresa had achieved their dream of buying a historic vineyard in Stellenbosch, complete with a 17th-century Cape Dutch homestead. Teresa took on the task of restoring the house while Ken and top winemaker Martin Meinert set their sights on making the world’s finest Chenins. Ken’s wines have won hundreds of awards and been poured at prestigious events including the opening of the Scottish Parliament and Nelson Mandela’s 85th birthday. Wonderfully rich and intense yet mouthwateringly fresh. Serve with grilled chicken, swordfish or roast pork.
The Grinder Pinotage 2010
Just as Malbec has soared in Argentina and Shiraz triumphed Down Under, so Pinotage is South Africa’s trump card red – with a distinctive spicy, coffee nose and sumptuous, rich berry flavours. And The Grinder is a textbook example of the quality good Pinotage can achieve – with instant success at one of the world’s most important wine shows. The grapes were picked at the last possible minute for optimum ripeness (and that lovely velvety feel in your mouth) from three premium vineyard sites. But the first thing you’ll notice is the wonderful mocha roast coffee bean nose. Perfect with grilled spare ribs and savoury sauces.
De Wetshof Estate ‘Nature in Concert’ Pinot Noir
Danie de Wet decided to try his hand at making a quality red wine from this tempremental varietal. He has more than achieved what he set out to do as this wine received a Gold Medal at the Veritas Awards. Fermented on its skins for eight days and then aged in barrel for a further year, this delicious smooth and fruity Pinot, has soft velvet cherry and reducrrants aromas on the nose plus elegant tannins add an extra dimension.
White River Chenin Blanc 2010
Intensely aromatic with a rush of citrus, gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours … the Lategan family know how to make great Chenin! They’ve been winemakers in South Africa for 150 years, and the multi-medal winning Cape maestros have produced yet another triumph. White River has been your favourite Chenin for years, and fans will love it more than ever with this mouthwatering vintage. And if you’ve yet to have the pleasure of this delicious white, there’s never been a better time!
