LB Sauvignon Blanc 2007

I was recently passing thru Armonk, NY and noticed a new wine store called Moderne Barn Wines & Spirits (see sidebar).  So of course I had to stop.  I asked the owner, Diana , which white and red wines she would recommend.  (The red will be posted later)  The only caveat I made was it could not be a Pinot Grigio.  She suggested a South African Sauvignon Blanc from the LB Vineyards.  The LB Vineyards is another wine produced by the Bouma family who has owned and operated the Anura Vineyards in the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain range north of Cape Town since 1990.  LB is named for Lance Bouma, son of Tymen & Jenny Bouma that run the Anura Vineyard.  In addition to the two vineyards, Anura has a second label called Frog Hill.  In a recent blind taste test between South African and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the judges split.  Surprise Surprise that the New Zealand judge picked their own and the South African judge picked their own.  The aromas of this pale yellow wine are fruity with citrus and melon along with some herbs and asparagus.  The flavors were a refreshing lemon-lime, pineapple and grapefruit along with some grassy tones and more minerality than I have tasted in the New Zealand wines.  It had a nice crisp acidity and quite dry.  We paired this with tilapia.  Would also go well with other fish, shell fish, white meats or even an appetizer plate.  If you haven't had a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, give this one a try.  Overall, an easy drinking and enjoyable wine.  Only 400 cases were made.  It retails for about $12.

Black Pearl Oro 2005

The 2005 Black Pearl Oro is a Shiraz (57%) and Cabernet (43%) blend from South Africa. This extremely dark purple wine is full-bodied but the structure was lacking. It has a black fruit aroma with a hint of chocolate. Later in the evening, I noticed a slight eucalyptus smell like an herbal medicine. The taste is bursting with fruit, particularly blackberry and plum, with some licorice and spice. It is aged for 12 months in 2nd and 3rd year oak. Not overly impressed with the 2005 Oro. Retails for about $19.

Indaba Shiraz 2008

This juicy South African Shiraz flaunts lively flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate, with hints of white pepper, licorice and spice. It makes a perfect partner for bacon cheeseburgers, grilled sausages, hearty pasta dishes, and lamb chops. We served this with wood-fired burgers with manchego cheese, prosciutto and a chipotle adobo paprika aioli. The Indaba Shiraz is aged in French and American oak barrels for 6 months before bottling. This was a surprisingly good Shiraz, which retails for about $11.

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. The program is in its sixth year.

Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2007

This South African white wine was produced by the Simonsig Winery in Stellenbosch. It starts with a nice aroma of golden delicious apples and Bartlett pears. The taste is full of flavors from apricots, pineapples and melons along with some honey and raisins from the chenin blanc. This grape was originally from France but is now one of the largest grown grapes in South Africa. A nice dry wine with a fair amount of acidity. This could be paired with an appetizer or with fish. Nice every-day wine that retails for about $10. Imported by Quintessential Wines.