2003 Goats do Roam (South Africa)

[Drew]

A multi-blend Rhone style wine from S.A. Full bodied and spicy with blackberry, raspberry and ripe dark fruit flavors with hints of earthy and mushroom nuances. On the ripe side but not overblown or overly lush. Has good structure and has a pleasant finish. Nice food wine for little $. 14%Alc/vol. Paid $8.88 minus 15% for mixed case discount = a good value.

Drew

[newsguy]

15 percent for a mixed case discount? sweet.

[Georgie]

I like this wine, too. and ya gotta love the name!

[Zinner]

Do you know the story of the name?

Tonight I was at a tasting with vintners Charles and Robin Back. Vineyard Brands, the company that imports their wines, is now based in Birmingham.

Charles Back produces not only wine, but goat cheeses as well. He tells the story that one of his sons left a gate open and the goats did roam right into the vineyard. Supposedly the cellarmaster followed the goats, noting which grapes they preferred, and a blend was made based on what the goats liked best.

They are now also making a Goats Do Roam in Villages, which they consider a step up from the regular. It's lovely stuff too and was about $12 at the store where the tasting was held.

But Charles says that doesn't mean they'll neglect the lesser-priced one. Says that they feel they have to "over deliver" because many Americans aren't familiar with South African wines.

Their other labels are Fairview and Spice Route. Lots to like here--geez I could go on all night, but better go sleep.

[This message has been edited by Zinner (edited 01-12-2005).]

[Kcwhippet]

They also make a wine called Goat Rotie.

[wondersofwine]

I've had the Goat Rotie at a restaurant and thought it was pretty good.

[Innkeeper]

Zim I'm a fan of their wines too. Howssever, don't you think they made up that story to stave off law suites from Southern French winemakers?

[Zinner]

I think they're far enough away from Cotes du Rhone to be safe. And I think the name really came about a suggestion from someone else who had been there and seen the goats. Charles didn't like it at first because he thought it might be too cute or frivolous and he did consider his wine seriously good.
Finally he relented and the brand took off.

The Backs are well aware that someone might buy it one time for the label, but they know that to resell it, it must stay tasty.

What's funny is that their Camembert won two years running in the World Cheese Championship, which included Camembert enteries from France. That really got the French folks goat. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

I really like the Goat Rotie as well. And the Fairview Beacon Shiraz '02 is stellar stuff in the classical style.

[hotwine]

I tried the '02 GdR with burgers back in Feb '04 and found it unremarkable. Have one more so can give it another chance.