2010 KWV The Mentors “Canvas”, Coastal Region, South Africa $24.95
Ever since trying these wines with KWV Winemaker Richard Rowe, I have been looking forward to them being released here in Canada. With what they call a “Mediterranean blend” of 71% Shiraz, 15% Grenache, 5 % Carignan, 4% Mourvèdre, 2% Tempranillo, 2% Cinsaut, and 1% Viognier from the coastal regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Swartland, KWV have created a wine that is quite unlike the South African wines that most are familiar with.
Gone is THAT SMELL and instead there is clean, bright, gorgeously juicy and pure fruit coupled with supple tannins and surprisingly brisk acidity. The glass positively brims with shedloads of blueberries, black raspberries, and blackcurrants. There’s oak in there too (16 Months in 50% larger new French oak barrels), coming through as a pleasant warm spiciness, but showing excellent integration, helping to make KWV Mentors Canvas a sheer delight to enjoy with friends, or alone for that matter.
It does drink extremely well alone… almost too well actually, as I found myself after going through it in a frighteningly short session. Saying that, I found it to pair well with hot paprika-spiced Catalan dishes, as well as medium-spiced Indian fare.
Trust me here, if the KWV label has ever disappointed you in the past, I bet that you are going to be pleasantly surprised by this wine.
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Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And he’s hoping that after writing this positive review there is still some left in the stores for his own enjoyment!
