Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Is it Thursday already? Ah, those three day weekends. . .always leaving you one day behind. So if it’s Thursday, it must be time for the Carpe Vinum Weekly Newsletter and Tasting Advance Notice!! I hope the Labor Day found all of you happy and not working. Personally, I was working hard. Working hard at trying as many wines as I could, in as short a time, at as many wineries in Walla Walla as possible! (Hey, whoever said hard work couldn’t be fun too?) It sounds like a tough job, but hey, it’s my first almost-completely-tax-deductible vacation. I mean, it is research, right? So, anyway, I got wine on my mind but I’m still a day behind.

That said, I had Washington wines all weekend, which is research for future tastings, but this week we will be tasting the fine wines of South Africa! Considering the heat that continues to bake the Northwest, I thought it would still be appropriate to be pouring some of the white wines from South Africa. The previous South African tastings have been very red-centric, but white wine is possibly what the South Africans do best. They have some stunning Sauvignon Blancs and some wonderful Chenin Blancs. And, of course, that’s a bit of what I’ve got for you here, among other jaw-droppers and slurpers. (Please finish slurping before jaw-dropping. It gets messy, otherwise.)

Also, among these wines is one I tried recently that is drinking really, really good right now, and I got it on a screaming deal. It’s the Mont du Toit 1999 Red Blend. Initially priced at $30 per bottle, I have it down to $19.95, and it’s all worth it. And I got the remainder of what is left in town. . .so there you go: A Carpe Vinum exclusive! I’m pretty excited about all these. Yes, even after tasting through a 5 or 6 dozen wines this weekend. That must be a good sign!

So Friday, September 9th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

South Africa!!
Kanu 2004 Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
Goats do Roam 2003 Blanc, Western Cape
Buitenverwachting 2004 “Beyond” Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia
Guardian Peak 2002 Frontier (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot), Western Cape
Mont du Toit 1999 (Cab. Sauvignon, Cab. Franc, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec), Coastal Region

Even More South Africa!!!
Raats 2002 Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
Mulderbosch 2001 Faithful Hound (Cab. Sauv., Cab. Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec), Stellenbosch

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Grenache!

M