| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | refreshing and tasted of raspberries. By the way, |
| South Africa is a major wine producer, ranking | | | | with the salmon its acidity was bang on. |
| seventh in volume. It has been in the wine | | | | The second meal consisted of stewed okra in |
| business for centuries. Most South African wine is | | | | tomato, garlic, and onion sauce over rice and |
| produced within a few hours of Cape Town | | | | eggplant grilled with its skin and covered in lots of |
| blessed with a mostly Mediterranean climate. This | | | | oil, garlic and lemon. Accompanying the okra this |
| particular wine comes from the relatively cool Elgin | | | | rose tasted of raspberry and some lemon. It had |
| Valley in the western Cape. | | | | light acidity with just a touch of sweetness and |
| South Africa's signature grape is Pinotage, a cross | | | | was quite refreshing. With the eggplant the wine |
| between Cinsault and Pinot Noir, both of which | | | | was palate cleansing and once again raspberries |
| originated in France. This red grape has lost | | | | predominated. On the other hand when it faced a |
| popularity in South Africa over the years and | | | | raspberry and rhubarb pie the wine was initially |
| never became popular anywhere else in the world. | | | | disappointing. I hoped that the raspberry taste of |
| I don't recall drinking many Pinotage wines. Let's | | | | the wine would meld with the pie. This was not |
| give it a chance. | | | | the case initially but as I continued the combined |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we | | | | raspberry taste intensified. The second dessert |
| taste and review are purchased at the full retail | | | | (sometimes we indulge) was a homemade peach, |
| price. | | | | pear, and strawberry cobbler garnished with |
| Wine Reviewed Slowine Rose, 2008 13.0% alcohol | | | | chocolate chips. The rose had fine acidity with a |
| about $10.00 | | | | touch of sweetness. |
| Let's start with the marketing materials. | | | | The final meal consisted of a commercial boxed |
| Description: We agree with Wine Enthusiast, this is | | | | vegetarian eggplant rolatini that included eggs, |
| a 'very pretty' rose. Read the note below -- this is | | | | ricotta cheese, and tomatoes. I added a lot of |
| a great buy. Tasting Note: [58% Pinotage, 28% | | | | grated Parmesan cheese. The wine had bright |
| Pinot Noir and 14% Shiraz] This classic, restrained | | | | acidity with a lot of lemony taste. It wasn't the |
| rose offers a wave of lemon, cherry and | | | | least bit unpleasant and had a nice length. I ended |
| strawberry on the nose and refreshing, crisp | | | | this meal with a high-quality chocolate-coated |
| berry flavors on the palate. Acids and fruit are | | | | vanilla ice cream bar. The wine and the dessert |
| very well balanced and the wine finishes clean with | | | | simply didn't mesh. |
| a slight spin of sugar. Very pretty and a great | | | | I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first |
| everyday sipper. Score - 86. (Susan Kostrzewa, | | | | cheese tasted was a sheep's milk feta. The rose |
| Wine Enthusiast, March 1, 2009) And now for my | | | | was fruity but short. Then I tried a brick cheese. |
| review. | | | | The wine was somewhat longer and fruitier, but |
| At first tasting the wine had mouth-puckering | | | | all in all the wine and cheese pairings weren't up to |
| acidity, and yet was light. It lingered in my mouth | | | | the rest. |
| with a definite berry taste. The initial meal | | | | Final verdict. I really liked this wine. I made sure to |
| consisted of bagels, cream cheese, and Atlantic | | | | finish every drop and would be happy to buy it |
| smoked salmon (lox). The wine was very | | | | again. |