LCBO Sale Pick of the Week: July 2

The Wolftrap 2014 Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier (Franschhoek, South Africa)

Sale $12.95, Regular $13.95
Discount (until July 19): $1.00
LCBO # 292557 | 750 mL bottle

Tastes like: Big bold and beautiful dark fruit with a nice coffee kick.
Pairs with: Something bony and meaty. Grilled, of course.
Good for: Cooler summer nights when you need a little something big and warm.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Drink: Now through 2017.

Why we're drinking this
South Africa is an interesting wine region to explore and often the source of tremendous value. The country’s winemaking history goes back centuries. This wine comes from the Western Cape region of Stellenbosch, in the little ancient town of Franschhoek. The Boekenhoutskloof winery was established in 1776. They also make the Porcupine Ridge Syrah that you may have seen at the LCBO. It’s a solid wine too.

Tasting note
This is a big bruiser, so fans of Pinot Noir and Gamay beware. It clocks in at 14.5% alcohol — hefty by any means — and has a rough and rustic quality that could be challenging for some. Still, this is a well-made, formidable wine with dark berry, plum, cassis and black cherry fruit and nutty/savoury notes of coffee and black tea. There’s a whiff of bacon and charcuterie in there too. The tannins are medium-plus and gritty. So what do you think? Correct, this wine needs a big meaty dish, something from the grill, and definitely with a bone in it. If you like wines that bite back, this is the one. It would be perfect outdoors on one of our cool summer evenings.

Find it at your LCBO
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This week's selection by kwäf Taste Bud Dick Snyder