Mulderbosch Shiraz Western Cape 2004

Mulderbosch Shiraz Western Cape 2004 (WS 92 points, $34.99, SKU 644492) – A friend brought over a bottle of wine in a brown paper bag for us to taste. The first question was whether this was old world or new world wine and I guessed new world. But I couldn’t put my hands on the grape type. I figured it was not the usual Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz or Pinot Noir. When the brown paper bag came off, it was the South African wine. So I was right in the sense that it was a new world wine. As with most South African red wines, this wine tastes a bit like the new world and a bit like the old world wines. The wine has a good aroma and body and it grows on you. I left it overnight in the bottle and drank the rest of it with a lamb dinner bought from the Greek festival. It was an excellent match since the pepper spice brought out the flavour of the lamb. This would be a very nice wine to pair with roast beef or lamb.

Chateau Laborie Cotes de Castillon 2005

Chateau Laborie Cotes de Castillon 2005 ($18.99, SKU 162842) was a 2005 Bordeaux recommended by a wine consultant at the 39^th LDB Signature Store. Remember that 2005 was one of the top Bordeaux vintages and the lower-priced wines were quite approachable early on. This was one of the less expensive wine with a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. I did not decant it at all since it was such a young wine. My tasting panel thought that this was a good effort for this price. It had some Bordeaux characteristics and still lots of tannin. In theory this wine can be cellared for a few years. The reality is who would put a under $20 wine in the cellar. So if you are having some pork or chicken dish, just buy a bottle and enjoy it with the meal.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Hands of Time Napa 2008

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Hands of Time Napa 2008 (US$38 including taxes) - I recently opened this bottle that I bought from Seattle. I purchased it at the wine store at

Pacific Place

in Seattle downtown in May 2011. There is no Wine Spectator rating on this wine. It is a Napa wine with a Bordeaux blend. It has a medium body and good aroma. It is a nice drinking wine with dinner and the price is reasonable. So if you happen to be shopping in Seattle and have some exemption room left, bring a bottle back and enjoy with your friends.