Arabella Shiraz 2006 — South Africa — From a land often known for the broccoli & asparagus overtones in its red wines, this Shiraz is a pleasant departure from that stereotype. This Shiraz wants to have food served with it; it is not our first choice for simply sitting on the deck and watching the sunset. We served it along side a garlic, vegetable, sausage & Parmesan saturated fettuccini Alfredo and it was a great synergistic pairing. The wine was as rich as the pasta dish and we finished both the bottle of wine and the pot of pasta. Very fairly priced, we give it 4 STARS — RECOMMENDED
Auka Merlot 2008 — Mendoza, Argentina — This wine has a great, pungent nose full of plums, currant, blackberries and a hint of caramel. The slightly spicy palate paired well with the tacos we had for dinner that night. And the finish was all dried fruits, some brazil nuts and smooth tannins. We like this winemaker’s style and are impressed with his wines.
Ondine Chenin Blanc — South Africa — This is another lovely example of South African wine at its best. Made from 23-year old vines and completely un-oaked, the nose is full of guava and leads to a smooth palate full of fruit and well balanced with a long and rewarding finish. Again, we like our Chenin Blanc with grilled trout sprinkled with dill. 4 STARS — RECOMMENDED
Lapis Luna Merlot 2007 — California — $12 — Intense scents of black plum and raspberry carry from the bouquet to the palate and then come cedar, sandalwood and coffee. This wine is lush and juicy in your mouth and then gives you gentle oak and tannins on the finish. For Merlot lovers it is a lovely choice for a weekday supper with a significant other. 4 STARS — RECOMMENDED
Norton Malbec Reserva, 2005 — Mendoza, Argentina. $12 (14% alc/vol) We are big fans of Malbec but hadn’t tried this winery before, and thus we had no idea what to expect from them. To our great joy, we found this to be a thoroughly delightful wine! A huge nose full of raspberries, strawberries and figs gives way to a medium bodied palate full of still more fruit and gentle oak tannins. The 12 months in French oak for this wine was just perfect, leaving the oak understated, yet powerful. This juicy wine finished just the way it started, with lots of fruit and gentle tannins. We paired it with lasagna and were not disappointed, as the two complemented each other beautifully. From a quick tour of the internet, we find that our bottle was probably a bit old, as the current vintage is 2006. But no matter. This wine gets 5 Stars and our Highest Recommendation.![2006 Riesling Dom F [Converted]](http://smallwinereview.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2005-TAPESTRY-MV-CABERNET-SAUVIGNON.jpg "2006 Riesling Dom F [Converted]")
Tapestry Cabernet Sauvignon 2007— McLaren Vale, Australia — You get exactly what you pay for with this wine., an absolutely delightful and impressive wine. It has a big nose of mint or ginger, depending on what food we put next to it. It has a big, rich mouth with smooth tannins and some cherry running right through the middle of my palate, and a big, long finish. This wine begs for a large piece of red meat grilled with garlic & served with sautéed onions. It is a perfect for a special occasion. Priced fairly, we give it 4 STARS — RECOMMENDED
Arabella Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 — South Africa — An interesting yellow with horse label that is distinctive on the shelf. This wine is not the broccoli/asparagus flavor profile associated with so many SA wines. This wine has forward blackcurrant notes with a juicy mouth of fruit and a finish of moderate tannin and oak. 4 STARS — RECOMMENDED
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