Indaba Merlot 2009

the second south african wine is another offering from winemaker bruwer raats and his indaba collection. indaba is the zulu word for a meeting of the minds. indaba makes five different wines all priced at $10. the merlot spends 6 months in french oak and has a nose of cherry, dark chocolate, some plum and a little smoke. the palate is a nice burst of plum and cherries followed by some really nice dark chocolate flavors. there was a little earthy, spicy flavor too. i enjoyed this with some grilled bratwurst and corn on the cob. nice red wine for those friday nights with friends and pizza.

Indaba Chenin Blanc 2009

over the course of the next several weeks i am going to be tasting some wines from an area of the world that deserves a closer look. the under-rated area of south africa. they've been making wine there for 350 years and are producing some very nice, and in many cases, very affordable wines. the indaba brand is almost 15 years old and are from winemaker bruwer raats. this chenin blanc will compete with your favorite pinot grigio for time on your patio while the warm weather still prevails. sells for about $10, but i found it in a new york wine shop for $8, it has a nose of pears, tropical fruit, a little melon and citrus, and i got a little floral note too. the palate is very crisp with apple, pear, and honey flavors up front. there were nice mineral and tropical (pineapple) notes in the mid palate, followed by some violet in the finish. nice, clean finish. refreshing white to enjoy alone or with salad or seafood.

Maryhill Sauvignon Blanc 2008

summer white wines always include sauvignon blancs and this one from washington is very nice. selling for about $12 this one has aromas of pear, pineapple tropical fruit and honey. The palate has subtle grapefruit, granny smith apple and some tropical fruit flavors. nice mineral notes and good clean finish. easy drinking white that i enjoyed with pulled pork barbecue and potato salad. try it with salads or seafood too.

Oak Spring Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

this is the final pennsylvania wine i have in my collection. in my opinion i saved the best for last. selling for about $20, this cab is aged in stainless steel with oak chips added to the mix for about 6 months if i remember correctly. the results are very interesting. the nose is fruity with black cherry, blackberry, spice and some bell pepper. the palate was very fruit forward, with black currant and blackberry flavors. the were some nice tannins and spice, along with plum and some vanilla in the finish. much more to my liking than some of the sweeter offerings that i tried in pennsylvania.

Starr Hill Winery 2009 Trovato

another wine from pennsylvania winery starr hill on the ground hog wine trail. this one is a nice red wine for someone just venturing into reds and can help transition into things that are bolder and more full bodied. a blend of pinot noir and dornfelder (the german pinot noir grape), this red has a nose of cherries, spice and some earth. the palate has strawberry and cherry notes, followed by some peppery spice and some earth flavors too. this falls in line with some of the other pennsylvania wines i have tried. it is a sweeter, fruit forward wine that sells for about $13. pizza or burgers on the grill with this one are in order.

Corvidae Rook Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah 2008

i really enjoy blends, and this one from owen roe selections corvidae wine company is worthy at the nice price of $15. the blend is 15% cabernet sauvignon, 45% merlot, and 40% syrah. the nose has lots of dark fruits, black cherry and cassis, with some really nice smokey, earthy notes too. the palate is big and bold, with plum and black cherry flavors. nice earthy flavors from the syrah and some velvety smoothness from the merlot. nothing shy about this one. good with grilled meats and red sauce pasta dishes.

Starr Hill Vineyard Geisenheim 2005

back on pennsylvania's groundhog wine trail for this riesling hybrid. this reminded me more of a gewürztraminer than a riesling. the nose led with white peach. i also got some nice star fruit and a little apple. there was some floral violet in there also. interesting nose for sure. the palate was semi sweet with pear and apple leading the way. there was also some floral notes and some interesting lemon and pine needle note in the finish. this one sells for about $12 and will work with asian food or as a nice after dinner wine.

Laurel Mountain Vineyards Merlot (N/V)

i head back to the groundhog wine trail in pennsylvania for this red. the laurel mountain winery was the first stop on our recent visit. and unlike the baco noir that i wrote about, this merlot is not a sweet red. in fact, it was tannic enough to require a little decanting. the nose was black cherry, herbal and spice (rosemary), and some slightly earthy notes. good beginning. and the palate was equally as nice, with plum, blackberry and some slightly smokey notes. as i said, this red was fairly tannic at first, but mellowed as the wine opened up. i also got more of the herbal notes on the palate too. sells for $15 and is excellent by itself, but will work with red sauce pasta or a nice grilled steak.

Urban Uco Torrontes 2009

i tried this summer time white at a tasting at my local wine shop. the nose is fragrant with nice white peach and honey aromas. nice tropical aromas as well. the palate had tropical fruit, lemon, white peaches and a little honeydew melon. very pretty white wine. nice, crisp finish. excellent patio wine on those warm summer days or as a nice compliment to summer dishes. sells for $10.