WineLovers Discussion Group

First, a 2007 Bernardus Marinus from the Monterey Coast area of California. Not decanted. A very traditional style with all five Bordeaux grapes, the nose was fairly ripe at first but never sweet, and just before the ripeness went into uh-oh-strawberry-jam territory other good things showed up, all savory and earthly and plummy, to give some balance. On the palate, mostly red fruit with iron, dust and interesting herbs. Finish is good and overall, the wine's dry, savory and complete. I think to myself, Otto would like this. It's a wine I've admired in the past for being so disarmingly elegant and traditional at it's usual price of around $40ish (because it's Monterey Coast vs. one of the tonier zip codes), and it's a downright steal at the firesale $18 price I paid. Bob loves it and almost faints with happiness when I tell him I bought a case.

To follow that, because the Giants hadn't won yet, another New World wine of the same blend, a 2005 Meerlust Rubicon from South Africa. Bob immediately picks up on the initial similarities while finding it hard to process the juicy, mouth-bursting huckleberry-laden black fruit and stronger, bandaid-y Bordeauxish back notes with a wine that he's told is both *not* Bordeaux and not even European. IOW, he completely forgot about South Africa. The Meerlust is showing well right now and is as confounding a conundrum of old vs. new as I've ever encountered. Good but almost too cocktail-fruity right now, especially vs. the other conundrum, a wine that's so obviously ripe and yet so restrained.

We both agreed: the Marinus won.

Always wonderful to get recommendations - though you're probably not very surprised to hear that it isn't available here!

I've always liked that Bernardus. Would love to see some at that price.

David, no surprise since our palates are so similar, yet always good to hear. I probably should have bought two cases, at this silly price (17.92 ea, to be exact) we could have considered it an everyday drinker and still saved a few bottles for Otto.

Jenise,
A fairly new producer in CA is trying to do more traditional Bordeaux-styled blends that might also be worth a try - Calluna.
Their property is at the top of Chalk Hill, all fruit is estate and the merlot is special. Cab. and blends are really nice, too.
For future reference.
Oh yeah, they have a website.
Best, Jim

Bandaidy sounds worrisome. I like Brett in France but hate the South African version. I still remember this utterly bizarre Pinotage (Simonsig).