WINE LIST
SOUTH AFRICA
  		• Four South African White Wines for $24 or Less
      This emerging wine region offers distinctive bottlings at inviting prices. Thanks to cooling ocean breezes and high-altitude vineyards, South African winemakers are able to counter their country's heat and bottle some impressive wines, both red and white. Catering to international palates, large amounts of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are produced in South Africa. Winemakers are also successful with Chenin Blanc, which is sometimes labeled as Steen on wines from this area. The best whites combine a medley of fruit, herb and mineral flavors with elegant structures and affordable prices. Contact us for availability recommendations in Virginia or West Virginia.

    MULDERBOSCH Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2002 Wine Spectator Score 92, about $24
    This chiseled, structured Chardonnay has lots of crunchy acidity supporting its ripe pear, fig, pineapple and papaya notes. Lots of citrus peel and floral hints here as well, with a long, stony finish. Drink now through 2006. 4,000 cases made.

    GLEN CARLOU Chardonnay Paarl 2002 Wine Spectator Score 91, about $14.
    This pulls no punches, with lots of grilled hazelnut, matchstick and piecrust aroma followed by ripe pear, fig and melon flavors. Long, smoky finish delivers another wave of fruit. Drink now through 2005. 15,000 cases made.

    GRAHAM BECK Sauvignon Blanc Coastal Region 2003 Wine Spectator score 87, about $10
    Elegant, but with deceptive richness, this has white peach, mineral and lime flavors that fan out nicely on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now. 14,000 cases made. One of our favorite white wines for the upcoming summer season. A real value !!

    BUITENVERWACHTING Sauvignon Blanc Constantia 2003. Wine Spectator 90 points, about $15.
    Racy Sauvignon, with distinct chalk, lime, herb and chive flavors, and hints of white peach and honeysuckle emerging on the finish. Deceptively concentrated, this should develop nicely in the cellar. Drink now through 2004.
  		• KANU Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2003
      Wine Spectator 87 points, about $9. This South Africa burgeoning white wine is augmented by Chenin Blanc, a grape which rarely gets serious treatment outside of France's Loire Valley. This version offers nice taut nectarine, peach and spice flavors, with a bracing edge that runs right through the finish. A bright, tangy introduction to this grape's good side. Drink now through 2004. A Best Value Wine.
  		• Mulderbosch Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2002
      Wine Spectator 92 points. About $24.00 Chiseled, structured Chardonnay with lots of crunchy acidity supporting its ripe pear, fig, pineapple and papaya notes. Insiders know to cellar this wine for a few years -- they blossom with time.
  		• Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2004
      Wine Spectator 91 points. About $20.00. Lean and racy, with tightly wound lime, chive, chalk and sweet pea notes that will need some moderate cellaring to fully unwind. Crisp, chiseled finish is really mouthwatering.
  		• MULDERBOSCH Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2003
      Wine Spectator rating 88 points. About $14.00. Racy and taut, with candied lemon peel, floral and mineral notes. Vibrant, crunchy finish. Mouthwatering acidity. A Wine Spectator "BEST VALUE" selection.
  		• KANU Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2002
      Wine Spectator 88 points. About $13.00. Has a delicious mix of grass, floral and hay notes, along with white peach and nectarine. Vibrant, bracing finish. A Wine Spectator "BEST VALUE" selection.
  		• BRAMPTON Chardonnay Coastal Region 2002
      Wine Spectator 88 points. About $11.00. Flinty, elegant. Hints of apple and fig. Nice cut on the finish. A Wine Spectator "BEST VALUE" selection.
  		• BRAMPTON Sauvignon Blanc Coastal Region 2002
      Wine Spectator 88 points. About $10.00. Fig and lemon curd that are offset by racy citrus peel. Floral and herb notes chime in on the finish for added effect. A Wine Spectator "BEST VALUE" selection.
  		• NEIL ELLIS Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2002
      Wine Spectator 89 points. About $15.00. Ripe pear and fig notes offset by vibrant structure and a nice minerally edge. Long flinty finish.
  		• BUITENVERWACHTING Chardonnay Constantia 2002
      Wine Spectator 89 points. About $15.00. Bold style, deep color. Fig, pear tartine, honey and floral notes, and a rich, round texture. Solid, focused finish. A Wine Spectator "BEST VALUE" selection.
  		• DELAIRE Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2002
      Wine Spectator 90 points. About $15.00. Juicy and crisp, with grass, chive and pea flavors. Hint of stones, and bitter citrus peel on the finish. A Wine Spectator "BEST VALUE" selection.
  		• KLEIN CONSTANTIA Vin de Constance Constantia 1998
      Wine Spectator 93 points. About $42.00. A 500ml bottle. Loaded dessert wine, with mango, blood orange, smoke, persimmon, ginger, date and fig flavors. Superlong finish. Treat yourself with this one!!!
  		• WARWICK Three Cape Ladies Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
      A Cab/Merlot/Pinotage blend. Wine Spectator 91 points. About $23.00. Waves of black cherry, currant and cassis flavor build on the lush palate. Smoky finish lets the fruit smolder.
  		• RUSTENBERG Peter Barlow Stellenbosch 2001
      Wine Spectator 92 points. About $46.00. Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe, almost exotic, with currant preserve, plum, fig, black tea, toast and spice notes. Dense, with a long, plush finish.
  		• DE TRAFFORD Shiraz Stellenbosch 2001
      Wine Spectator 94 points. About $39.00. Terrific wine, with plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit up front driven by freshly roasted coffee bean, Valrhona chocolate, sweet earth and smoke notes.
  		• Ernie Els Cabernet Stellenbosch 2001
      Wine Spectator 93 points. About $75.00. Modern style Cabernet Blend. Blackberry, black currant and boysenberry fruit oozes along the palate, while cocoa, Lapsang souchong tea and Kona coffee notes ripple through the finish.
  		• Rudera Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch Noble Late Harves
      Wine Spectator 92 points. Dessert Wine. About $25.00. A 375ml bottle. Marked by orange blossom, persimmon and mineral notes.
  		• GLEN CARLOU Chardonnay Paarl 2002
      Wine Spectator 91 points. About $15. This pulls no punches, with lots of grilled hazelnut, matchstick and piecrust aroma followed by ripe pear, fig and melon flavors. Long, smoky finish delivers another wave of fruit. Wow, wow, wow.
  		• Merlot Swartland Flagship 1999
      Wine Spectator 91 points. About $35.00. Modern, lush style, with lots of sweet mocha, vanilla bean and coffee notes laying over juicy, ripe plum and boysenberry fruit. Nice mineral twang on the fleshy finish.
  		• Rustenberg Stellenbosch John X Merriman 2001
      Wine Spectator 91 points About $26.00. . Flashy style, with lots of black tea, fig, sweet toast, black currant, bittersweet chocolate, plum and blackberry compote aromas and flavors. Long and lush, this is concentrated, but stays balanced and alluring. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
  		• Rustenberg John X Merriman Stellenbosch 2000
      Wine Spectator 89 points. About $26.00. You can smell the pure beam of raspberry fruit this offers, and the palate follows through on that promise along with herb, mineral and cocoa notes. Tight and racy still, with the fruit giving way to the herbal, minerally side on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
  		• Rustenberg Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2002
      Wine Spectator 90 points. About $19.00. Lots of flashy grilled nut, fig and pear fruit, but there's legtimate depth and length as well. Hints of stones, matchstick and honeysuckle chime in on the long, rich finish. Has power and grace. Drink now through 2005.
  		• Rustenberg Chardonnay Stellenbosch 5 Soldiers 2001
      Wine Spectator 91 points. About $35.00. Very suave Chardonnay, despite its bold, buttery, toast-laden profile. This sports lots of graham and grilled nut notes, with rich fig and pear fruit. Expands effortlessly in the glass. Drink now through 2005.
  		• Buitenverwachting Chardonnay Constantia 2002
      Wine Spectator 89 points. About $16.00. Classy Chardonnay, with lushly textured mineral, fig, toast and dried pineapple flavors intertwined. Nice balance here, with dried tropical fruit on the lengthy finish.
  		• Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Constantia 2003
      Wine Spectator 90 points. About $15.00. Racy Sauvignon, with distinct chalk, lime, herb and chive flavors, and hints of white peach and honeysuckle emerging on the finish. Deceptively concentrated, this should develop nicely in the cellar. Drink now through 2004.
  		• Meerlust Pinot Noir Stellenbosch Reserve 1999
      Wine Spectator 88 points. About $28.00. Quite earthy, but rich and sweet too, with truffle, tea, baked plum and cherry fruit flavors. The acidity is still fresh and the texture supple despite the rustic flavor profile. In a distinct style that's not for everyone. Drink now through 2005.
  		• Meerlust Stellenbosch Rubicon 1999
      Wine Spectator 89 points. About $30.00. Maturing, with a slightly dry edge to the black currant and cassis fruit, but there's plenty of concentration, and ripe acidity lets interesting mineral and earth notes enhance the finish. For fans of the style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
  		• Rust En Vrede Merlot Stellenbosch 2001
      Wine Spectator 89 points. About $15.00 Has a funky edge, with earth and sous-bois notes, but there's muscle to the ripe plum, blackberry and currant fruit here. Smoky finish has nice herbal and chocolate hints. If this settles in, it will be a winner, so try cellaring. Best from 2004 through 2006.
  		• Rust En Vrede Estate Red 2002
      Wine Spectator 92 points. About $34.00. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot. Terrific juice, pure and driven, with red and black currant, cassis, bittersweet chocolate, graphite and espresso flavors. Serious depth, with the fruit coursing through the finish despite its youthful tightness. A classy wine. Best from 2004 through 2008.
  		• Warwick Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2004
      Wine Enthusiast 90 Points - Initially rather simple and sweet, offering ripe tropical-citrus fruit plus a round, soft feel, behind that veneer lurks an impressive wine. With time emerged Sauvignon Blanc’s brighter citrus and grass tanginess, and much higher apparent acidity. It’s full yet crisp, closing long with rich fruit and mild pepper notes. Grab now, but wait until 2005 to drink.
  		• Warwick 2003 Old Bush Vines Pinotage
      Wine Enthusiast 88 Points - Opens with a lovely raspberry, chocolate and spice nose. Strong and solid, with deep fruit, a nicely balanced mouthfeel, and well-employed oak, this closes long and dry with mildly tangy tannins.
  		• Warwick 2001 Estate Reserve
      Wine Enthusiast 88 Points - Offers interesting Oriental spice, leather, popcorn and earth notes over deep cassis fruit. Full and smooth, with excellent balance and an espresso-dark finish. Perhaps oak heavy, but delicious in weight and style not unlike some very good modern-style Graves.
  		• Graham Beck Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 1999
      Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award 2004. The Blanc de Blancs, which is labelled with vintage, appears every year, contrary to the practice in Champagne where a vintage is declared only in years of exceptional quality. Made only from Chardonnay fruit nurtured on the Madeba farm just outside Robertson, half of the wine was fermented in pièce Champenoise 205-litre French-oak barrels, with the remainder fermented in stainless steel. The blend spent some 40 months on the lees in bottle to gain complexity before disgorging in October 2003. The wine contains 11% alcohol and has a residual sugar of 8.4 grams per litre. It shows a brilliant greenish straw colour in the glass, with racy, pin-point bubbles and creamy mousse. The nose is immediately forthcoming in a nutty, minerally style, though reserved and sophisticated. The restrained Chardonnay fruit is enhanced by the mere hint of clean, honeyed oak, and develops on the palate as the mousse warms in the mouth - finishing with great length, balanceand steeliness.

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