Martin Meinert, Synchronicity, Stellenbosch

Quintessential & Quixotic; 3/30/2013-3/31/2013 (Scott & Todd's) : My first taste at the time it was rotated into a decanter in the morning found this too-strong on the green/bell pepper note discussed upthread. However, by the time it was being served, it had harmonized. Cassis and burnt wood, light blackberry, pencil and still an herbal note that spoke of Cab Franc but was no longer in the way of the rest of the wine. 90+

A lot of SA typicity. G. was able to pick it out as an SA wine blind. The green note, while still quite evident, is more balanced with the rest of the wine than it was last time around 18 months ago. I like this, but would not have wanted to pay $50 retail for it.

Cape Blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 14% Pinotage from the Devon Valley – just outside of Stellenbosch. Dark ruby color. Slightly muted nose shows plum, pepper, and oak. Beautiful medium-full bodied palate: dark fruit, spice, coffee, and chocolate notes. Medium length finish. Definitely requires decanting. Ready to drink now but I really think this will benefit from several more years of cellaring. An excellent Cabernet-dominated Cape Blend with evident quality Pinotage influence.

Pretty good and interesting - mix of black fruit, some spice and coffee from the Pinotage.

I'd like to think this might turn into something good down the road, but this has got way too much bell pepper going on right now. Some cassis and dark fruit hiding in there. Good acidity, but next to nothing in the way of tannins. I have my reservations, but was wrong on the '03 Englebrecht Els, which started much like this but aged into a 90+ pt wine for me, with the green fading away as though it never …

This wine drank best at about T+ 1 hour, after which it began to pinch down on the cocoa powder, leaving the little bell pepper note to ring louder. It was a nice contrast with the Rhone wines already on the table. The cedar, plum, and tobacco nose has some impact but the palate is by no means over the top. This went best with maple-chipotle waygu beef (that is , something sweet, char-grilled and medium rare). This features nice, …