The Mentors 2016 Canvas Red Blend, Western Cape

This bottle shows South African winemaking at its best.

During our recent trip to Florida, we stopped over in Savannah on the way back. We stayed at our favorite dog-friendly hotel there, the Kimpton Brice Hotel. Although the hotel has a couple of dog-friendly tables at the restaurant, we opted for the Secret Garden.

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The Secret Garden is an open courtyard where we could enjoy our takeout meal al fresco. Another benefit is that there is no corkage fee and I had conveniently brought The Mentors 2016 Canvas red blend. As our dog Amber settled beneath the table, I uncorked our wine.

This was one of my first purchases from WTSO, the online wine retailer with daily flash sales. When I saw a South African red blend that retails for $39 available for $17, I pushed the button. I’m glad I did.

The Mentors is one of the brands of South African Wine giant KWV (which is short for a nearly unpronounceable Afrikaner name). KWV was founded as a co-op in 1918 by wine growers. It did a lot of admirable things, but KWV also set quotas which resulted in quantity over quality in the country until they were abolished in the 1990s. KWV later helped establish the Wines of Origin program, which helps assure consumers of the top quality in South African wines.

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We’re superfans of South African wine since our safari there and romp in the winelands a number of years ago. South African wine, in our minds, combines the New World fruit-forward profile with Old World winemaking craftsmanship.

The Mentors range is named in honor of Abraham Perold, who developed Pinotage and is considered the father of modern South African viticulture. Canvas is a red blend of 39% Shiraz, 17% Grenache Noir, 17% Tempranillo, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Cinsaut, 6% Tannat. That’s a mighty cool blend, with the Tempranillo adding an interesting twist to the mostly Rhone-style wine.

On the palate this rocks with layers of dark cherry, raspberry, and violets. Vanilla highlights a smooth minerally finish. This delivers full-body satisfaction without bombastic tannins. It is great with grilled meat, or even pasta with meat sauce (as I enjoyed in the Secret Garden). The only drawback is that I only purchased only one bottle (which I have since rectified!).

If you haven’t been drinking South African wine, this is a beautiful introduction. It’s still available on the WTSO website. Cheers!

Friends Spring Fling Wine Dinner Delivers Fun

COVID kept this group of friends bottled up for far too long. Time to uncork the bottles!

The beginning of spring was ushered in with a private wine dinner at Cellar 55, to salute fun and friendship. The event featured dishes by Chef Jounte Burwell and wines from Nina Escobar from Cellar Distributing.

Pierre Brut Nature Mauzac and Nuts & Berry Salad

The opening salad dish said “spring” in every possible way. It featured mixed greens, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, feta cheese, and toasted almonds. This wine comes from the Limoux region in southern France and is made with Chenin Blanc and Mauzac. Nice bubbles with notes of green apple. A great starter for the evening.

Mary Taylor 2020 Saint Pourcan Rosé and Gazpacho

Gazpacho is another perfect spring dish – a chilled tomato soup. The soup was finished with cucumbers, red onions, and cilantro. This is a 100% Gamay rosé that is copper in color and hails from the Loire region. It has a lovely taste of dried cherries and peach. There is a good acidic backbone, which makes for a superb pairing.

Voces El Viajero 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley and Petit Filet

The wine was crafted by winemaker Fernando Candelario, who was born in Mexico. The wine is plush with juicy blackberry and currants. The finish is smooth and silky. This wine is aged in both American and French oak and the flavors are well integrated. The filet rested on a thin bed of polenta and was finished with a red wine sauce. This was a heavenly combination of vino and cuisine!

Arvay 2018 Tokaji Edesem and Chocolate Pot de Crème

The final dessert, a Chocolate Pot de Crème, featured fresh berries, French cream, and mint. Paired with the dish was the Arvay Tokaji, which is a famous dessert wine from Hungary. This wine is usually made with Furmint, but for this one, the Muscat grapes are used. The Tokaji gains its special flavor thanks to noble rot – a mold called botrytis that feeds on the water in the grapes and concentrates the grape sugars into honey-like sweetness. The only thing sweeter than this wine was the opportunity to gather with friends free of COVID isolation! Special thanks to Caroline Greer for organizing the dinner.

Jumpstart Your Spring With These Four Wines

Whether you are celebrating Easter, or simply transitioning to warmer temperatures and longer days, here are four perfect wines for you to discover.

I just realized that I made it through the entire winter without once using my ice scraper. Saints be praised! It was quite a different story when I lived up north, where the football teams are much better, but the weather is decidedly colder. Spring is nature’s way of saying it’s time to party – and we have some great suggestions for you.

Lievland 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coastal Region, South Africa

It’s time to get the grill out of hibernation, and this South African Cab is just the wine to go with your crispy creations. We love the South African style, which marries the fruit-forwardness of the New World with the Old World winemaking methods. The Green Dragon (wife) doesn’t always know which wine I’m handing her to sip. After one taste, she proclaimed, “This is really great.” Medium ruby in color, the wine features grapes from the winelands of Stellenbosch and Paarl. It is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cinsault, and 6% Cabernet Franc.

The tannins are smooth and give a polished finish to the wine. The wine is aged in oak barrels, but only 5% are new, so there is nothing harsh to interfere with the elegant flavors of vanilla, spice, and ripe plums. This is a beauty priced at $18.99.

Maison Les Alexandrins 2019 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge

Syrah is a perfect match for an Easter lamb dinner. This Northern Rhone wine is grown on the granite slopes of Crozes-Hermitage. The 2019 vintage was a rough one, with a June hailstorm wiping out many of the vines in the region. This was followed by record heat that caused some of the berries to burn. The quantities were limited, but the harvest went smoothly.

In the glass, this wine is deep purple. Earthy notes frame the wine, which has flavors of candied fruit and sour cherry. The intense flavors explode on the palate and a subtle smokiness provides additional complexity. Serve at about 60º to 62º F. Perfect with grilled or spicy food. SRP $32.99.

Miguel Torres 2021 Las Mulas Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, Chile

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc hails from the Central Valley of Chile. The wine is 100% organic and vegan. The name and the label are a homage to Rufina the mule, who can be found in the vineyards. The wine is certainly not stubborn, with rounded flavors of tropical fruit with a hint of citrus.

Although there is a good acid structure, the flavor is rounded and satisfying. This is a perfect bottle to chill and serve with grilled or baked fish. Or, feel free to open and enjoy by itself. SRP $14.99.

J. de Villebois 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine

Loire Valley has a brilliant range of wines, including those made from Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. The banks of the Cher River (a tributary of the Loire) have flinty soil, just perfect for Sauvignon Blanc like this one. This cuvée is the flagship of J. de Villebois. Pale yellow in the glass, it has fresh aromas of acacia and ripe fruit.

The flavors are vibrant with lemon drop and apple notes. Spritely minerality binds it all together. Pair this with shellfish or goat cheese. SRP $17.99.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Avaline NV White Wine, Spain

This checks the boxes for organic and vegan wine – but is it any good?

Clean Wine Comes To Town

I suppose it is what you call a fool’s errand – a task with little hope of a successful outcome. I was zipping around to a couple different grocery stores, hoping to find a bottle of Grüner Veltliner without making a drive to the wine shop. Some friends were coming over for a light dinner and some wine. I thought Grüner would be ideal.

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Well, my plan crumbled when I discovered that there is row upon row of budget-minded wine, but nary a bottle of Grüner. Instead, I latched on to a bottle of Avaline. I had no prior knowledge of it, but I liked the way they put their vegan and organic status front and center.

Avaline has quite an interesting backstory. It is the product of actress Cameron Diaz and fashion entrepreneur Katherine Power. As they chatted over a glass of wine, they realized that while they knew all the ingredients of the food they put into their bodies, they had no idea what was in the wine they were drinking. In terms of ingredients, only the alcohol level and sulfites are required to be disclosed in US wines.

What’s Not In Your Wine

Avaline has a full line of wines, including Pinot Noir, Syrah, a red blend, rosé (both still and sparkling), Grenache Blanc, a sparkling wine, and the white blend, which we sampled. All are made with organic grapes and are vegan-friendly. All of the ingredients are disclosed. Some wine sippers may not realize that animal products (gelatin or egg whites) are occasionally used in the fining process of winemaking. A fining agent is used to remove unwanted particulates from wine. Avaline uses Bentonite clay, a naturally occurring ultrafine clay. The clay binds to the proteins in the wine and then both are filtered out.

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Sulfites are naturally occurring in wine, but winemakers sometimes add more to help preserve the wine. Wineries can legally have up to 350ppm of sulfites, but Avaline keeps it at less than 100ppm. This is good news for those who are convinced that sulfites give them headaches. There are up to 70 additives that winemakers sometimes use in creating wines, but you won’t find them in Avaline wines.

A New Hollywood Hit?

I felt like I had really scored when I discovered the grapes (which aren’t clearly listed on the bottle): Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Malvasia. Xarel-lo isn’t the name of Superman’s father, rather it, along with Macabeo, is one of the primary grapes used in Spain’s famed sparkling wine, Cava. There are two Spanish wineries used to help produce the wine. Raventós i Blanc is one of the oldest wineries in the world. It is well known as a Spanish producer of Cava and sparkling wine. Can Ràfols dels Caus is a family-owned winery with Roman origins. Both are certified organic winemakers.

We found the wine to be a delightful drink. When I originally was seeking Grüner Veltliner, I wanted something different than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. I was pleasantly surprised with how well Avaline filled the bill. It has stone fruit notes with lemon zest and threads of white flowers. Another great feature is that the ABV is only 11.6%, which is much less than most wines and even less than most Riesling. The Pinot Noir and Syrah clock in at 12.5%, which is certainly low for reds. We paired this with appetizers and salad.

At about $20, this is a big thumbs up for us. You have funky Spanish grapes, a low price point, and it’s food-friendly. We salute Avaline’s clean wine ethic too. The jury is definitely out on Cameron’s “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” but she has a smash hit with Avaline white blend.