California Cabs

California boasts some of the best red wines in the world. Jammy, syrupy, luscious, bring your own thesaurus.

Here are some of our favorites (with apologies if some are in the wrong price bucket):

... Around $20 ...
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Benziger Family Winery
Double T
Dry Creek (92 points, WE)
Hayman & Hill
Howell Mountain
Kalinda - K&L says "complex, broad, viscous." We say 16 beans
Louis M. Martini
Mount Eden "Cuvee Saratoga"
Newton Claret
Oberon
Paul Dolan from Mendocino County. (90 pts, WE). Try Sea Grape on Hudson Street.
Robert Goyette
Sequoia Grove
St. Clement Oroppas
Sterling
Twenty Rows
Wyatt

... $30 - 50 a bottle ...
Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner meritage (92 pts WS)
Elizabeth Spencer (sourced in Mendocino, Fuchsia nose but rich and warm)
Groth ("Impressive for its depth and balance." - WS)
Hanna
Heitz Cellars
Kalinda Reserve
Larkmead
Leal (Carnaval is a meritage from this San Benito county winery, crafted by a former fencing contractor and an ex-mechanic)
Merryvale Reserve
Meyer Vineyard
Mount Eden
Napanook (second of Dominus)
Oakville Ranch (WE 83 points)
Orin Swift "The Prisoner" (cab, zin blend)
Paul Hobbs CrossBarn (try NapaCabs)
Ramey Claret
Storybook Antaeus (Bordeaux style blend)
Trefethen

... $50 to $100 ...
Barnett Vineyards
Beringer Private Reserve (gold standard of American Cabs)
Cliff Lede
Corison Kronos Vineyard
Dalla Valle
Duckhorn
Fantesca
John Anthony
Karl Lawrence
Lail (Napa) (95 points or higher and under $100)
Mercury Head (Orin Swift)
Paul Hobbs (Stewart, Beckstoffer and Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, all good)
Pegu
Philip Togni (94-96 points RP)
Rudd
Silver Oak
Silverado
St. Clement
Stags' Leap
Trefethen Library
Verite La Muse
Von Strasser
Whitehall Lane Reserve
> See Wine News' Best Under $100

... $100 plus ...
Abreu (Wine Spectator said of the 2000: "A candidate for wine of the vintage.)
Bryant Family
Caymus Special Selection
Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages
Dalla Valle Maya
Diamond Creek ("Sleek, with rich, earthy cherry and wild berry fruit." WS)
Dominus
Harlan
Kapcsándy
Martin Ray Diamond Mountain
Quilceda Creek (Columbia Valley, WA)
Screaming Eagle
Staglin
Switchback Ridge
Von Strasser

... Meanwhile in Washington ...
Woodward Canyon and second label Nelms Road, Walla Walla, WA
Amavi, Andrew Will and Robert Parker favorite Quilceda Creek also Washington winners

... Bargains ...
There aren't many of them. One is Louis M. Martini from Sonoma. WA 90pts: "An exquisite value, this is a seductive, fleshy, fruity wine with excellent texture, body, and balance. Lots of cassis as well as silky tannins characterize this top bargain pick."

... Ergo, a warning...
If you've got $10 to spend and are in a hurry, you might want to look elsewhere, like Spain or Argentina.

... Going to Napa?...Looking for the right bottle?...
Wine Enthusiast on American Cabs
Wine Spectator on Affordable Napa
Food and Wine best winery tours

R for Reliable, V for Value

We call them reliable reds, or reading reds. Good wines that are not too hard to find and won't break the bank, are versatile and good. Baby animals like them. We like them too.



Aglianico del Vulture
(Basilicata region, Italy)
Rich ruby reds, tannic, juicy and full-bodied.  Cantine del Notaio "Il Sigillo" is one we like and Wine Spectator gave it 92 points. Elena Fucci Titolo is another winner, bigger, herbier. Try Crossroads in NYC.


Delaire Graff Botmaskop
(Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Bordeaux blend that South Africa's John Platter awarded 5 stars.

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 
(Chile)
James Suckling 91 points, and lots of awards.

Terrazas Cabernet Sauvignon
(Mendoza, Argentina)
Rich, smooth and full-bodied without excess. Try BevMax.


What are your favorite reliable, value reds?

Back to Italy

Three Italians Walk Into a Restaurant...

Sicily: Cerasuolo Di Vittoria
Cerasuolo, Sicily
Cerasuolo Di Vittoria is a blend of Nero D'Avola and Frappato.
Try: Cos, Valle Dell'Acate, Planeta
This is a smooth, rich red with just enough flower and finesse.
Under $30 at Gotham Wines.
Can't get enough of Planeta? Check in for a session at the winery hotel and cooking school, la foresteria.

Veneto: Palazzo della Torre
Veneto makes Amarone, Valpolicella and other well-known Italian reds. We like Palazzo della Torre that uses Amarone grapes and methods for a easier-drinking, easier on the wallet wine. 70% Corvina , 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. A portion of the fruit for this wine (30%) is left to air-dry on racks (Amarone-style). WA 89 points.
Try: Allegrini
"An irresistibly stylish wine... opulent, generous red is loaded with jammy dark cherries, chocolate, spices and sweet toasted oak." WA 90 points.
Around $16 at 67 Wines.

Tuscany: Bolgheri Tenuta  Argentiera
Tuscan Bordeaux Blend from Alta Maremma, first tasted at i Sodi in NYC.  A gentle Super Tuscan.
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, give or take.
 90 Points: Wine Spectator. Ranked second among the wines from this region with respect to number of prizes won. The 2008 vintage was awarded Gold Outstanding from the International Wine & Spirit Competition as well as Or from the Selection Mondiale des Vins Canada.
Where: That's the tough part. This wine comes and goes. If you see it, buy it. Or go to i Sodi, an awesome restaurant whatever wine they're serving.

Tuscany: Avignonesi Merlot Desiderio
Lush Tuscan Merlot. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
NapaCabs.com says, "Ripe black berry fruit, sandalwood, cinnamon, and vanilla." WA 94 Pts, Decanter Bronze Medal.





.

Stellenbosch & Franshoek: Lodging

Some places we've enjoyed staying... or would like to spend a night or six.

L'Avenir

The pool at L'Avenir

Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren guest cottage

La Clé des Montagnes

La Cle du Paradis?

Jacana

Jacana offers luxury accommodation in 5 suites.

Ons Genot Country Lodge (now called Vine Guesthouse)

Ons Genot's neighbor

Sugarbird Manor

Sugarbird Manor at night

Wild Clover

Another day, another vista

Wedgeview

Spa, gym, pool, great team

See also:

South Africa: Merlot
South Africa Wine Country: Slide Show

American Merlots

Merlots Are Some of America's Best Wines

Overlooked? Undiscovered? Yes. And if one movie has quelled demand, then consider yourself lucky, and go out and get some. "Whatever your wine budget, now is a good time to drink California Merlot" writes Tim Fish in Wine Spectator. "The 2007 vintage offers quality for serious collectors as well as for shoppers at the value end of the spectrum."

14 Hands - Let's hear it for value wine from Washington. Bad label, strange name, darn good wine (WS 90 points). Available at Crossroads in NYC, sadly hard to find outside the USA.

Atalon - Napa - Parker gives 89 points to this "sweet perfume."

Barnett Vineyards - Napa - Rich, intense, blended with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Blair Estate - A small, family owned winery making consistently good Merlots (and other wines). This one happens to be a bargain.

Burgess - Napa - Rich and deep. A relative bargain.

Byrd Cooper - Napa - From the Neyers folks.

Cakebread Cellars - One of the stalwarts. Complex, well made, the height of great American Merlot.

Columbia Crest H3 - "Opens with aromas of raspberries, black pepper and earthy tones which lead to flavors of chocolate covered cherries." WS 91 pts.

Darioush - Beautifully complex and syrupy. The Wall Street Journal's "Tastings" column raved: "This was the single most memorable wine from our trip to Napa and Sonoma tasting rooms last summer and the best Merlot we tasted all year."

Derenoncourt - Celebrated winemaker and consultant Stephane Derenoncourt is the brains behind the lush, vibrant offering. 130 beans, but Wine Spectator raves about it.

Duckhorn - Another big gun. Here's what the winemaker says: "The flavors are dominated by ripe berry, plum, and raspberry complemented by toasty oak, caramel, and vanilla." Wine Spectator says 90 points of the 2002. (And their second label, Decoy, is a great, everyday Merlot).

Hall - A Napa winner. They take the fruit from three of their cooler vineyards. The wine has a dash of... 6% Cabernet, 5% Syrah, and 1% Cab Franc, and maybe that's what make it expressive and balanced. 

Hedges "Three Vineyards" - Another Washington winner. 90 points Wine Enthusiast. Available at K&L Wine.

Liparita - Gorgeous Napa Merlot. Rich but not too big, syrupy, smooth, complex but friendly. Wine Spectator, Editor's Pick 2001 Merlot. This wine will hug you, seduce you and give you a kiss goodnight. Sadly, they are saying goodnight merlot. So snap up the old stuff.

Matanzas Creek - Good not great. The winemaker waxes about "melted toffee notes that complement the rich bouquet of black fruits."

Nelms Road/Woodward Canyon - Both the first and second label of this Walla Walla (Washington) winery are juicy, fruit forward winners. Nelms Road was a recent Food & Wine winner "Best Wine under $20."

Newton Claret - A bargain at around $16 a bottle. Bordeaux (or Claret) blend. Merlot-based, with 35% cabernet and 1% syrah for good measure. What it lacks in distinctiveness it makes up in plain ole drinkability. 93 pts WE.

Neyers - Pedigreed Californian. Also known for their Syrah. Plus Byrd-Cooper, French style Merlot.

Rancho Sisquoc - From Santa Barbara. Edward Robinson's favorite. Try Central Coast Wines.

Paumanok - Long Island, yes Long Island.

Pahlmeyer - Another Napa winner.

Pride Mountain - "An openly seductive style, with ripe currant, blackberry and wild berry fruit shaded by splashy mocha, espresso bean and oak flavors. It’s complex and concentrated, but also quite tannic, so if you pull the cork tonight, decant an hour," says James Laube, Wine Spectator. WS 93 points. RP 92 points. ($60 plus).

Rombauer - Balanced, dense, mocha and ripe plum. A winner at around $27. (Thanks to Watershed, new favorite Atlanta restaurant).

Selene - Napa. Thanks for writing in, HS.

Shafer - Good, expensive.

Sherwood House Vineyards - Another Long Island winery. WS 88 points. Under $20.

Switchback Ridge - Napa

Tamarack Cellars "Firehouse Red" - Columbia Valley, WA. (Note, this is not even mostly merlot, but we think it belongs on this list anyway). The winery says: "Which varietal is lending which notes? Who cares." You'll taste cab, syrah, merlot and a dash of cab franc." 90 points and #49 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2010: "Supple and open-textured, brimming with gorgeous plum and currant..." Try K&L. Read RJ's post.

Trefethen - A classic American merlot: big, ripe, deep, rich, round. (San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition winner). At $25 a bottle, a bargain. Try WineChateau.

Twomey - Another robust Napa Valley contender, from the Silver Oak gang. WA 91-93 points.

Verite - Top of the line. If you're feeling flush. Bordeaux style micro-crus. All score well above 90 points with Parker, Tanzer and their ilk.

Warnke Cellars - Napa bargain. Fruit-forward style, full mouthfeel, supple with a welcoming nose. New world style.

Whitehall Lane - Good, bang for buck Merlot and top-end Leonardi.

. . .

See also: South African Merlots

Wine Spectator 2007 Merlot Report

"Merlots Worth the Money" - Forbes

The Sideways Effect on Merlot is Mostly Dead -  Steve Heimoff

Bordeaux Baby

Bonjour mes amis. Recently we've been drinking some very tasty Bordeaux that won't break the bank.

Baron de Brane, Margaux

Second label of the heralded Château Brane-Cantenac.

It's fresh and lively, with oak and good fruit, and the 2009 is drinking well.

NYC try Warehouse Wines and Spirits

Chasse Spleen, Moulis

The leading Moulis estate along with Château Poujeaux. Both are great buys. Parker gives most vintages around 90 points. 

In London, BBR carries it

Château Saint-Pierre, St. Julien

The smallest St. Julien cru. Margaux-like nose, with to a dense, cassis laden palate more akin to Pauillac.

In the US, try Hart Davis Hart 

London try BBR

Reserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac

Elegant Pauillac second label of Pichon-Longueville Lalande. 

London try Nicolas

NY try Millessima 

Ch. du Tertre, Margaux

Textbook Margaux, with a supple, velvety feel and a stylish core of plum, red currant and black cherry fruit. Wine Spectator 90+.

More of our Bordeaux musings, recommendations and rants here. 

London, August 2014

Lonsdale Road

Queens Park, London

Rome, August 2014

These are photographs taken by a friend of ours of walls and fraying posters in Prati, Trastevere and Monti.

Click on image to see larger version. 

Two Italians Walk into a (Wine) Bar

On a recent trip to Italy, we had two wonderful wines, one red, one white. The red, Montefalco Sagrantino, is from Umbria and is becoming increasingly popular and oenophiles the world over are starting to buy, drink and praise it. The white, is a one-off from Lazio, a delicious, apricot-but-dry white that goes with fruit, fish and sunshine. 

Sagrantino

Sagrantino is a grape varietal that grows only around the hilltop town of Montefalco. Granted DOCG status in 1992 and made in Umbria, Montefalco Sagrantino is a powerful wine with great depth. Through increased care during vinification and attention to ageing practices, these Sagrantino wines have evolved from highly tannic and rustic into wines of respected quality.

The native black grape Sagrantino, grown around the town of Montefalco, is used to make wines of distinctive splendor in dry (secco) and sweet styles. Required to be at least 95% Sagrantino, both DOCG wines must be aged for 30 months, with the secco spending at least 12 months of that in oak barrels. The sweet wine is a passito, produced from dried grapes, and is regarded as one of the finest dessert wines in Italy’s central region.

Thank you San Marco in Prati, Rome

More from Bella Umbria.

http://www.bellaumbria.net/en/food-and-wine/sagrantino-montefalco/#.U-TM0YHVno0.twitter

Good post from Alcohol Professor. And one from IntoWine ("the best red wine you never tasted."

Read more about Umbria wines from Wine Words Wisdom. And figure out where to stay when you visit.

Buy It (UK):

Waitrose

Wine Society
Define Food & Wine

But It (US):
NapaCabs
Montefalco Rosso, similar but not the same, at Astor

Satrico

This wine will forever taste like summer in Rome, at least to me. It's dry but has an apricot-fruitiness that is distinctive yet not overpowering. You can find it in Italy and the US, but it's hard to buy elsewhere. 

From the producer: "This white wine takes its name from the ancient pre-Roman city of Satricum. Traces of the earliest huts, which formed a village around a central place of worship on high ground near the river Astura, date from the 9th century B.C." 

A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Trebbiano Giallo grapes. The grapes, harvested just as they begin to ripen, are vinified separately to ensure that the fresh, distinctive aromas of each variety come through in the final blend. 
> More from the producer.

Similar wine? Frascati from Lazio, like Pallavinci, available at Wine Society. Or this one, Coenobium, made by nuns in Lazio, available at Astor Wines. 

Grazie Urbana 47 restaurant in Monti, Rome.  

Buy It (US):

Bootleggers in NJ

. . .

> Related: Unusual Italian Reds

Looking for a rich Italian red that won't break the bank? Try these wines from Veneto, Sicily and beyond.

Continue Reading...          

Time to Drink that Wine?

So you've got a 1993 Bordeaux gathering dust. Time to drink it? Yes it is. How about that 1996 red Burgundy? No rush, but you'll be drinking it soon. California Cab from 1996? Not so fast, tiger. A white wine, just about any white wine, from 2005 or earlier? Drink them now if it's not already too late. 

Berry Bros. & Rudd

http://www.bbr.com/vintage-chart

Click on the chart above to see larger version

Robert Parker / Wine Advocate

https://www.erobertparker.com/info/VintageChart.pdf

Click on the chart above to see larger version

Wine Spectator and Others Top Wines of 2013

A good year for Rioja and Spain in general. Spain comes in at number one on this list and Riojas, Bierzos, even a sherry share the limelight. Paso Robles gets its due, including Turley, a cult favorite for many years. Not surprisingly, a lot of big American reds score high marks, including Quilceda, Hewitt, Lewis and a syrah from Walla. Tuscany has several winners, and the top Bordeaux wines are somewhat surprising. The bargain American is Bedrock Heritage from Sonoma, a blend of 21 grapes. Top Chardonnays include Hamilton Russell from South Africa and Failla from Sonoma.

Here is the complete list: Wine Spectator's top wines of 2013.

Take a look at Wine Spectator's top wines of 2010.

Wine Enthusiast has a good list of the best wine buys of 2013. And here is Food and Wine's list of bargain wines.

SF Gate Top 100 Wines, authored by Jon Bonné, gives top cab to Dominus and features a great list of Pinots from America and around the world.

Bordeaux Ooh La La

Bordeaux Ooh La La

Critics who tripped over themselves to heap superlatives on the 2009 Bordeaux vintage are rolling out the hyperboles for the 2010 vintage. “For some Médocs and Graves, 2009 may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in thirty-two years of covering Bordeaux,” Robert Parker proclaimed. “I find it hard to imagine that I will ever again encounter such successful consecutive vintages in Bordeaux as 2009 and the infant 2010s I have just been tasting” opined Jancis Robinson. Weather, terroir and fruit came together for a perfect Claret. Twice. “To find comparisons, you have to go back to the climatology of the Forties,” explains Denis Dubourdieu, director of the Bordeaux Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences.

Universal approbation has already had one lasting effect: sky high prices. The 2009 (if you can find it) and 2010 Haut-Brion are close to $1,000. Expect to pay a lot for the other big names like Cheval Blanc, Haut Bailly, Palmer, Lafite-Rothschild, and Angelus, all of whom have produced dazzling 2009 and 2010 offerings.

"Even Bordeaux’s château owners admit to surprise at the sky high prices," writes Jancis Robinson, the FT’s chief wine correspondent. Robinson notes that some Bordeaux futures are now approaching the current prices of 2005 Bordeaux (the most recent mega-hyped vintage and a very good year by all accounts).

Prices are highest at the top end, driven in part by investors. “It has been quite difficult to sell wines below $50 a bottle. There seems to have been a lot of speculative buying,” says Pierre Lawton of Bordeaux merchant Alias.

For wine buyers this means a fourchette in the Bordeaux road. If you’re buying futures (“en primeur"), you’ll want to acquire one of the big guns, which will likely yield the highest returns, even though the initial investment is highest.

For wine lovers who want to cellar a case, there are, happily, some more affordable options. Chateau Climens and Smith Haut Lafitte, both at around $100, are rated among the best of the vintage. At $60 and $75 a bottle, Chateau D'Issan and St. Pierre are relative bargains. "Unbelievably powerful, rich, and impressive, this may be the finest St. Pierre ever made," opines Robert Parker. Other relative bargains include Chateau Chasse Spleen, Chateau Carbonnieux, Croix de Beaucaillou, Phelan Segur and Les Ormes de Pez.

And what about the 2012s? By all accounts they’re damn good too. Again, the big guys and middle range are expensive, and don’t even think about drinking them now. Stay tuned and if you’re tasting them, let us know what you think.

. . .

> Read more about Bordeaux

Santa Barbara Wine Country

Ninety Miles and a Million Years From LA

Nestled along the Pacific Ocean, just ninety miles from Los Angeles, the vineyards and wineries of Santa Barbara County unfurl amid rolling valleys, wild flowers, majestic oaks and picturesque towns. The cool coastal region produces some of America’s best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The wineries also make Sauvignon Blanc, Rhone-style reds and just about every varietal in between. (Yes, this is Sideways country. No you don’t have to crash your car into a tree or rail against Merlot.)

Foxen Canyon Wine Trail

Ocean-kissed mountains, cool sea breezes, multiple microclimates and multifarious soils (limestone, serpentine rock and chirt to name a few) make for a rich, diverse viticultural region—and give the wines their special character. “Cooling fog and wind from the Pacific offers a long, even growing season that allows the grapes to fully develop mature flavors,” explains Richard Sanford, co-founder of Sanford Winery. The result: deep yet floral Pinots and bright, acidic Chardonnays.

Vines Waiting for Your Picnic

Downtown SB

Start in the city of Santa Barbara, the Cali-chic capital of the region, where surfers mingle with tourists, tech geeks and baristas, and everyone wears fleece and flip-flops. Downtown Santa Barbara offers shopping, gallery-hopping and good dining options, from tiny taquerias to white tablecloths, while the outskirts of town boast breathtaking vistas, luxury hotels and long stretches of Pacific beach. Walk or take a short drive to Carr Vineyards with its soaring warehouse tasting room, or the nearby Jaffurs or Santa Barbara Winery. For a sip of history with your wine, drive to the nearby Mission Santa Barbara, founded by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786.

Byron Tasting Room

The Rest is the Best

From Santa Barbara it’s a quick drive into the heart of Santa Barbara County’s wine region. The petite town of Los Olivos is home to twenty tasting rooms, including Byron, Andrew Murray and Epiphany Cellars. The Danish-accented town of Solvang offers more curiosity if fewer tasting rooms and less authenticity. The town of Buellton is a gateway to Santa Rosa’s wineries. The scenic, sleepy town of Santa Ynez offers a taste of the Old West, minus cowboys, plus luxury inn and authentic Mexican grill. 

Further into the wine country, the vineyards stretch out between rolling valleys and swaths of yellow rye, hemmed by the Pacific to the west and the San Rafael Mountains to the east. The terroir is at its richest and the wineries most plentiful along the famous Santa Maria Bench, known for its rich soil, limited root growth and good drainage—viticultural heaven. Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, a scenic twenty-mile rugged road, sits atop the bench and connects the Santa Ynez and the Santa Maria Valleys (think unpretentious little brother of Napa’s Silverado Trail).

Pinot Noir Grapes

On and near Foxen Canyon Road, you’ll find an embarrassment of winery riches. Byron produces seductively silky Pinots. “The closer you are to the Santa Maria Bench the better the quality—smaller berries and more intense flavors,” says Jonathan Nagy, winemaker at Byron.“ Neighbor Cambria, winner of Wine Spectator’s 2009 wine of the year, is known for its eight clone-specific bottlings. “Having different clones planted gives us flexibility in blending and also gives us the opportunity to show how different each clone is,” explains Denise Shurtleff, Cambria’s winemaker. Nearby Foxen produces a broad range of wines, from Sauvignon Blanc to Port-style semi-sweet, served in adjacent tasting rooms—one an old shack and the other a state-of-the-art solar-powered facility. “We source from all the microclimates of Santa Barbara Country" Foxen’s Riley Wathen says. “So the winemaker has a relationship with specific vineyards and varietals from Happy Canyon to Santa Rita Hills.”

Expect to pay a small fee at most tasting rooms, which range from extravagant architectural feasts to galleys perched in warehouses or atop barrel rooms. The locals are friendly, the wineries range from big and famous to small and intimate, and a many of them make very good wine. The sea is a bit cold for an anytime dip, but this is a great place to hike, bike, drive or simply taste wine and, like the grapes, sit in the warm embrace of California sunshine.

Wineliner in Santa Ynez

Wines and Wineries:

Andrew Murray 

Babcock 

Barrel 27 

Brewer-Clifton 

Byron 

Cambria 

Carr 

Curtis
Demetria 

Epiphany  

Fess Parker  

Firestone  

Foxen 

Io  

Jonata
Melville 

Palmina 

Qupé
Sanford 
Riverbench  

Sine Qua Non
Zaca Mesa

More Information:

Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
www.foxencanyonwinetrail.com

Santa Barbara County Wines

http://www.sbcountywines.com/index.html

SB Wine Store

http://sbwinestore.com

Photos: John Schneider

Top California Winery Picnic Spots

Thank you Wandering Wino for these great Santa Barbara County and Edna Valley picnic spots. Who wouldn't want to curl up with a good bottle, tasty cheese and crusty bread and take in a relaxing vista while having a picnic.

Read more: Top Winery Picnic Spots

South Africa Merlot

The big reds from South Africa can be really, really big. If you're looking for a bit more nuance, a wine of medium body, then the Merlots may be a good bet. There are lots of them worth sipping, and many are bargains. Here are a few of our favorites.

Barton
Walker Bay
Barton’s vineyards, situated at the heart of the Kogelberg National Eco Park. This is a straightforward, no-nonsense bargain red from the award winning Barton Vineyards. In the UK, available at Define Food & Wine. 

Bilton

Stellenbosch
The reds are standouts. A merlot that is great bang for buck and the "Sir Percy" blend, a French style blend. The merlot boasts 4 Stars Platter Wine Guide: "Succulent and sophisticated, deeply fruit-rich... layered with dried herbs and smoke, building complexity..." Available in the US from Southern Wines. For the money, you can't do much better. And be sure to eat at Taste Restaurant, where Ed and staff will take very good care of you. Winery and restaurant open Sundays. Staying in the neighborhood? You'll wish you were lodging at Jacana. We did.

Dieu Donne

Franschoek

Winery, guest lodge and restaurant. All are good. Their Merlot picked up three awards in 2010 (Michaelangelo, Veritas, Bruxelles). Unfortunately not available in the US or UK, but you can order from their website.

Dornier
Stellenbosch

Another one with a great restaurant and guest lodging, even great architecture (pictured above). And the Merlot? The wines are fine. Nice merlot, Donatus Red, a blend, is probably the winner.

Ernie Els
Stellenbosh
Very good Merlot and their Proprieters blend is a standout (Cab, Shiraz, Merlot, even a bit of Petit Verdot for good measure). Wine Enthusiast (90 pts): "Polished and lengthy, with a mix of ripe plum and blackberry fruit woven with grilled herb notes." Available in the US and UK.

Guardian Peak
Stellenbosch
Another bargain. Easy drinking, California-style Merlot (and that's a compliment. Their restaurant, with breathtaking views, is worth a visit too. Available in the UK from Oxford Wine Company and SA Wines Online.

Hartenberg
Stellenbosh
They are famous for their Syrahs, but also make a top tier Merlot (a Veritas medal winner), good, not too oaky Chardonnay and bright, crisp Sauvignon Blanc.Order their wines in the EU from Taste of Africa. Nearby Ons Genot Country Lodge ("our pleasure") is quiet and charming.

Jordan
Stellenbosch
The owner/winemaker cut his teeth in California. The grounds are spectacular and the restaurant is well worth a meal. The standouts are the easy drinking merlot, and the reserve Chardonnary and red blend. Can't get enough Try High Timber, their London restaurant.

Meerlust

Stellenbosch

One of the old, venerable bastions makes a ripe, rich left bank style Merlot.

Morgenster
Stellenbosch
Tanzer loves this one: "Deep, saturated ruby-red, elegant nose..."

La Petite Ferme
Franschoek
"Christmas pudding flavours – spicey, plums and some nutmeg. This wine is predominantly soft with some firm fruit tannins..."

• • •

See: South Africa post.

Slideshow: South Africa wine and wine farms.

Need a map of Stellenbosch?