These days when there is so much of buzz around Organic food and vegetables. There is a niche segement of 'Órganic' wines around the world. When i saw this wine I did not want to let go of the opportunity to try some organic Red wine from Stellenbosch.

First thing that had me intrigued was the name, and this being a South African label i was sure there was a story behind this. Apparently the name is a tribute to the three thousand ladybirds that are released each year into the vineyards to combat the bugs and hence bypasses the need of pesticides.

This wine is predominantly Merlot along with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot.


On the nose : it has a fruity aroma, has a freshness of Cherries and there is a hint of Spice.
On the Palate : this is full bodied wine with a lush fruity taste of Plum and Cherries and medium finish with a hint of oak. 
This was an excellent wine and paired well with steak and a rack of lamb.


Stellenbosch is perhaps the most famous wine-producing region in South Africa. The town, in Western Cape's Coastal Region, is steeped in history and is home to the country’s best-known wine estates. Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s most prized grape variety, often found with Merlot as part of a Bordeaux Blend. Stellenbosch is just 25 miles (40km) east of Cape Town.

 

This is a Rose from the Bordeaux region of France. It is a Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot.  Red grapes and their skins are macerated for only a few hours, and then fermented, as a white wine would produce a lighter colour. 
This particular wine was a sort of pale salmon coloured wine.
On the nose this wine has a red berry aroma with a slight citrus tinge.
On the palate this is a tad drier than most Rose’s (as pointed by my friend Gopal J ), tastes fresh with a fruit filled finish.
It paired well with the Hot Mezze (Spanakopita and Asparagus ,Zucchini Fatayer)and Cold Mezzes ( Hummus and Shankaleesh)on account of its dry characteristics.  I would recommend this wine as an appertif.

This is a red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, made by the Grover vineyards from the grapes grown in Nandi Hills and apparently stored in Oak barrels after fermentation (I guess an attempt at replicating the Bordeaux environment and process). This was always the 'Grand Daddy' of the Indian Reds and pretty much the ‘First Choice Indian Red’ for the last decade before the plethora of Indian made vineyards popped up over the last 5 years.

The wine is Dark purple colour
The nose is distinctly blackberry with a hint of spice and green pepper.
On the palate this is a medium bodied wine there is a fruity cherry taste with a strong spicy taste and a hint of Oak. The finish was distinctly tannic with a perceptible alcoholic finish on the palate.
Pairings that were suggested by the Vineyard were Mutton dishes and Biryan, So I tried this with some good old fashioned Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani and it was definitely a good match.
I remember reading somewhere that Stephen Spurrier rated this particular wine as “ the best new world red wine”...but that was in 2005 and Indian wine is notoriously inconsistent.  It is still one of the best Indian Reds available in the market. It retails for Rs. 750

This is a wine made from the Bordeaux region in France. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The nose was a very earthy, spicy one with distinct black current and Oak
On the palate, though, this wine was fresh and dense with a taste of ripe, slightly chocolaty dark fruits, firm tannins and an Oak residue.
This wine pairs well with Grilled Chicken, Cheese burger and Vegetable Quiche and a Choclate tart J
This wine was picked up as a classic Claret from the UK. So I am not really sure of the pricing

This is a Chilean Import from the Maipo Valley in Chile. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Camenere and Syrah. It is a medium bodied wine. It had a Chocolaty aroma with a flavour of Chocolate, Vanilla and pepper.
It went well with the Pepper steak that was prepared by the Chef Nimrat Pahwa of ‘On the Rocks’ at Hotel park Sheraton and Towers, Chennai. If i remember well it was priced at Rs 3200 inclusive of tax.