LCBO Sale Wine of the Week: September 15
The Wolftrap 2015 Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier (Franschhoek, South Africa)
Sale $11.95, Regular $13.95
Discount (until Oct. 9): $2.00
LCBO #292557 | 750 mL bottle
Tastes like: Lots of black fruit and sweet dark spices, with chocolate and coffee. Warming, juicy, delicious.
Pairs with: Big meats, stews, pretty much anything roasted or grilled. The black fruit and sturdy structure will go nice with complex, savoury dishes and hearty red-sauced pastas.
Good for: Sipping in the cooler fall air and bracing for the pending Polar Vortex.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Drink: Now thru 2018.
Why we're drinking this
As the weather turns cooler, we want more alcohol. That is, we want bigger, warmer wines like this little number from South Africa. The last time we reviewed this wine, just over a year ago, it was on sale for $12.95. Well, take another buck off for the fall 2016 season! At $11.95, this wine is a great deal — and might as well become your house wine for cool-weather dining. It’s named for the wolf trap that was found on the winery’s property, though no wolves have ever been seen (we’d love to hear more of that story!). The Boekenhoutskloof winery dates back to 1776 and is located east of Cape Town in the Franschhoek Valley. In 1993, the winery was revitalized by new owners. You may also know their Porcupine Ridge Syrah, which is also carried by the LCBO.
Tasting note
You can pretty much smell this perfumed wine as soon as you crack the screw cap, it’s that concentrated. Bold aromas of black plum, black cherry, black berry (yes, welcome to the dark side) get a boost from notes of strawberry and pomegranate. Lovely sweet cinnamon, coffee and chocolate round things out, with a little bit of warm oak-vanilla. All of this comes through in a flavourful, full-bodied, somewhat rustic wine that finishes long and juicy, with a touch of menthol heat. The 2015 is a little fruitier and smoother than the 2014, with less savoury/meatiness. There’s more Mourvedre (31%) in this year’s vintage too, versus 16% last year, adding more structure and tannins. Very enjoyable on its own or with stews, grilled steak, chicken in red wine sauce.
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