Barbecue Sampler Half Case- May 2012

2 x 2007 Tenuta Vitalonga Umbria Elcione
2 x 2007 d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original McLaren Vale Shiraz Grenache
2 x 2008 Indalo South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon

At Lot18 we're definitely excited for the arrival of summer 2012. It means that we finally get to spend evenings outside firing up the grill and dining al fresco. And it also means we get to pair great barbecue-friendly wines with all that delicious smoky charred fare. To share our excitement, we put together three of our international favorites to jump-start the beloved barbecue season.

In this half case you'll discover a spicy Shiraz-Grenache from Down Under, a supple Bordeaux-style blend from Italy and a luscious Cabernet gem from South Africa. All three wines have bold fruit, body, spice and power, making them ideal companions for your next grilled meal. I bet you can smell the charcoal already!

Tasting Note
2007 d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache
Red raspberry coulis jumps out of the glass, with supporting notes of cedar and eucalyptus in the 2007 d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original. The palate is very juicy, with a fresh and vibrant acidity and light to medium tannins. Floral and mineral tones lift the cran-raspberry flavor component. This will be ideal with your favorite sweet-spiced Asian dish or lightly flame-charred chicken drums. Enjoy this now or in the next three to five years. (14.5% ABV)

2007 Tenuta Vitalonga Umbria Elcione
This is a beautiful, slightly modern expression of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Italy's Umbria region. It shows lovely ripe fruit character wrapped in a spicy perfume of vanilla, clove and cedar. Refined on the palate, this red offers up pure pleasure, with notes of plum and red currant complemented by a slightly herbaceous finish. Enjoy it now and pair with simple foods such as salumi, or Mediterranean-inspired grilled swordfish or spice rubbed lamb kebabs. (13.5% ABV)

2008 Indalo South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon
Intensely dark, purple-ruby, the 2008 Indalo Cabernet Sauvignon's inky color points toward its full body and ripe, fruit-driven style. Powerful aromas of black currant and plum dominate, but are well supported by the leafy tobacco notes that Cabernet drinkers expect. Velvety and lush, the Indalo's soft tannins enhance the lush fruit, and balanced acidity makes the wine pleasingly refreshing for a big-boned red wine. Pour this wine with thyme-roasted leg of lamb, braised beef-cheeks with buttered pasta or a marinated steak on the grill. (14.43% ABV)

—Nicole Niebisch

Nicole Niebisch has worked in the wine industry for the past decade. She started in New York restaurants as a sommelier and, prior to joining Lot18, spent five years working for Folio Fine Wine Partners, an importer and producer of wines from several of the world's top regions. Nicole holds certificates from the Society of Wine Educators and the American Sommelier Association, and the Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Read more about Nicole here, or follow her on Twitter.