2008 Rooiberg Reserve Flagship MerlotRobertson, South Africa *World-Class Beauty...

Why We Love ItA juicy red our Panel calls “truly elegant,” this is a mouth-filling Merlot to quench all biases associated with Cabernet’s underappreciated spouse. Hailing from the lesser-known Robertson district in South Africa’s Western Cape (generally acknowledged as South Africa’s second-best wine district – and coming behind Stellenbosch, that isn’t a bad place to be), this is production that tantalized our Sourcing Team with its revolutionary soul and balance between Old and New World styles. Brought Inside for “a blissful expression” of both an emerging region and a grape on the rise, it’s single-vineyard beauty; breathtaking terroir.Expressing the beauty of its region in every sip, the Robertson district (also known as the “Valley of Wine and Roses”) lies within the Breede River Valley, a region beloved by South African wine-lovers for its commitment to dense flavor, cultivar expression, and stellar QPR. Set apart by the Breede River, which snakes across the South African landscape, spreading alluvial soils along its banks, the region benefits from one of the best climates for reds. Herein lies the Rooiberg Estate, close enough to the river to impart the alluvial complexity into its vines, while receiving the warmth of the region that makes makes for rich, luxurious Merlot. A winery collecting more and more acclaim each year (think showered with Gold Medals), Rooiberg is the first wine producer in the Breede River Valley to launch into sustainable practices through the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative. In short, their mission simple: take the beauty of their surroundings, and seek that within the wine glass.For our Panel, however, “beautiful” wasn’t an adequate descriptor; though “world-class” and “luxurious” were terms tossed into the mix, their conclusion was to give up describing, and pour another glass. Layered with ripe berries, cherry, and a finish of stone fruit, it's solidified with firm tannins that promise a few more years in the cellar (though uncorked in early 2012 left no one disappointed). Majestic scenery enveloped inside a 100% single-vineyard Merlot, this is elegance and refinement one should expect from a top-shelf Merlot. more