Wine & Words

 We were fortunate last week to have a visit from Zingo Munger, Southeastern Sales Manager for Cape Classics, an importer and distributor of fine South African wines. As Zingo poured samples for Mary and me at the Washington store, he regaled us with tales of the burgeoning South African wine industry. South Africa has a winemaking history dating back to the 16th Century, but in recent times it all fell apart as the world boycotted South African products over their apartheid policies. When Nelson Mandela came to power, the industrious South Africans got to work to revive their wine industry. Now, due to savvy marketing and a currency (rand) that trades very favorably to the dollar, South African wines are back. If you’ve been buying wine with us over the years you know we have carried several Cape Classic selections – Buitenverwachting, Kanonkop, Kanu and Mulderbosch. We are now pleased to introduce you to some of the standouts from our tasting with Zingo.
Excelsior Chardonnay 2008 (Robertson, South Africa) Regular Price $11.00/ Feature Price $8.80
Robertson is a town in the Western Cape Region of South Africa, known as “the valley of wine and roses.” The Excelsior Estate’s various endeavors read like a history of the ventures attempted in Robertson. Founded in 1870 by the De Wet family, the estate originally raised ostriches for feathers for ladies’ hats. Then they went into ranching, raising hackney carriage horses and Friesland cattle. When the motorcar killed the market for carriage horses, they started breeding thoroughbred race horses. Between 1980 and 1995 Excelsior Estate bred eight individual Classic winners and now their wine logo is a stylized silhouette of the head of a handsome horse. Though some wine has been made at Excelsior from the beginning, the modern winery was built in 1981 emphasizing wines that are “made” in the vineyard from grapes that are carefully managed and drip irrigated from the original channels that carry water from the adjoining mountains.
This 2008 Chardonnay is clean and bright, bringing forward that great Robertson Valley fruit. It’s perfect with grilled seafood or something spicy. It was just listed as a “Best Buy” in the September 2009 issue of “Wine Enthusiast” magazine, where it received 86 points (“very good”) from the reviewers. An excellent Chardonnay at an extraordinary price.
 
Indaba Shiraz (Western Cape, South Africa) Everyday Low Price $9.95
“Indaba” is the Zulu word for “a meeting of the minds,” or a traditional gathering of tribal leaders for a sharing of ideas. The brand was created as a celebration of the democratization process in South Africa, and from its inception, the wines have conveyed the spirit of South Africa to American consumers. Indaba is known for its commitment to social responsibility. A portion of the proceeds from all global sales is used to support a scholarship program for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue higher education in the wine industry. Indaba scholars have gone on to pursue opportunities in winemaking, marketing, agriculture, business, and graduate education. Mzokhona Mvemve is currently the head winemaker at Indaba. He was the first ever black South African winemaker to graduate from Stellenbosch University (in 2002) and he was the first recipient of the Indaba Scholarship.
We were amazed at this Indaba Shiraz. It is rich and full bodied with the lusciousness you usually associate with premium Australian Shiraz. And at this extraordinary everyday low price, you can drink great South African wine, support the development of young South African winemakers…and save a few rand for next time.
 
 
Mulderbosch “Faithful Hound” 2005 (Stellenbosch, South Africa) Regular Price $26.55/ Feature Price $21.24
 
We’ve been enjoying the Mulderbosch Cab Rosé all summer, so we’re already familiar with the winery.  I was interested to note from the Cape Classics website that Mulderbosch Cellarmaster Mike Dobrovic is a follower of the works of the Sufi poet/philosopher Mevlana Rumi.  He imparts a little of life's poetry into his winemaking with his philosophy of “quality at the expense of quantity.” As a result, he’s established something of a cult following and Mulderbosch is revered as one of the best wine producers in South Africa. I like one of his homey winemaker sayings:

I love winemaking because it’s one of the few professions where if you come home from work not smelling of alcohol your wife asks where you’ve been.

 
Zingo saved this one for last.  The man knows what he’s doing.  This is one of those “aha” wines, where Mary and I look at each other with that “Oh, my God” look.
 
A complex Bordeaux-style blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc, the wine has layers of thoughtful complexity and a finish that goes on forever (if you can wait that long to take the next sip). It was created as a tribute to Boes (“Bushy” in Afrikaans), the “faithful hound” that kept watch over Mulderbosch farm for three years after his owner’s death.
 
Wine Spectator 90 points (“outstanding”).  They say you can drink it “through 2011”…if you can hold out that long.
 
And not to be outdone, our Tryon Distributing rep, Sarah Stewart, also brought us some new wines.  We thought it would be fitting to introduce another Southern Hemisphere selection at this time when we northerners are waiting for the 2009 vintage, while "down under" they've already got it bottled.
Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) Regular Price 13.25/ Feature Price $10.60
There’s a Frenzy of zesty flavor in this crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, including the requisite “weird” flavor notes of green pepper, fresh cut grass, lime and…shudder…cat pee. I know. Who wants to drink something with these wacky non-wine flavors? Well, that’s what New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is about. It’s different! If you haven’t tried this kind of wine, brace yourself and get into the Frenzy spirit. It’s amazingly good with salads and veggies. Or try it with the last of the season’s crab meat. Or douse the flames of hot, spicy Mexican or Asian cusine. Wow!
Frenzy is the “second label” for Mount Nelson, a premium New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc made by the Antinori family of Tenuto Campo di Sasso in Tuscany. The Mount Nelson balances the “frenzy” with an attempt at the sophistication of the great Sauvignon Blanc wines of France’s Loire Valley (Sancerre and Pouilly Fuisse). But, hey; summer’s ending and we’re feeling expansive. Let’s go for the Frenzy.