Nov. 28--This is a very unusual wine from South Africa. Mostly old-vine Chenin Blanc with just 12% S魩llon in the blend, the 2013 Alheit Vineyards "Cartology" is elegant and refined, with an opulent scent of apricot, lemon and flowers. The taste is ripe and lush, but there's a tautness and minerality to the Chenin Blanc/S魩llon that brings it all into balance. This is a real stunner that just keeps getting better and better in the glass. Perfect for a special dinner party over the holidays. This would be a terrific match with butter-poached lobster, Dungeness crab or pan-seared Tasmanian ocean trout.
Region:South Africa
Price: $50 to $53
Style: Opulent
What it goes with: Lobster, crab, salmon and ocean trout
Where to find it: BestWinesOnline in Santa Ana, (888) 817-8880, www.bestwinesonline.com; Southern Hemisphere Wine Center in Huntington Beach, (800) 504-9463; the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse.com.
irene.virbila@latimes.com
Follow me @sirenevirbila
