Editor's Choice: March 2009
VALUE MERLOT
★ ★ ★ THREE STARS
Villiera 2006
CELLAR PRICE: R48
Owned by the Grier family, this Stellenbosch farm has a reputation for producing wines that off er great quality relative to price, and this Merlot is no exception. A medium-bodied, elegant wine with red fruit matched by some herbal notes that lend interest.
CE's score: 15.5/20.
INVESTMENT MERLOT
★ ★ ★ THREE STARS
Lomond 2005
APPROXIMATE RETAIL PRICE: R87
From a property near the seaside town of Gansbaai in the district of Cape Agulhas comes this full-bodied wine with lots of dark fruit and firm tannins. Made in a plush, modern style, to which the fact that it spent 16 months in new French oak attests.
CE's score: 16/20.
VALUE MERLOT
★ ★ ★ ✩ THREE AND A HALF STARS
Zonnebloem 2007
APPROXIMATE RETAIL PRICE: R50
The reinvigoration of producer-wholesaler Distell has been a long time coming but this wine is another of theirs that proves that it is finally under way. Red fruit and pencil shavings on the nose, while the palate is medium bodied with good fruit expression and
fine tannins.
CE's score: 17/20.
INVESTMENT MERLOT
★ ★ ★ THREE STARS
Seidelberg Roland's Reserve 2006
CELLAR PRICE: R110
Juicy red and black fruit and judicious use of oak - it turns out that the wine spent 18 months in 300l French oak barrels, of which 30% were first-fill, 20% second-fill and 50% third-fill. Visit this Paarl farm's glass-blowing studio before stocking up.
CE's score: 16/20.
