Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards ‘The Raptor Post’ 2007, Tulbagh, South Africa (£10.99 The Wine Society Ltd, Berry Bros & Rudd, E H Booth & Co Ltd, Free Run Juice, Duncan Murray Wines, Peter Ballantyne & Co Ltd, Edward Oliver Inns, Delilah Fine Foods, Yorkshire Vintners, Vinoteca Ltd, deFINE Food & Wine, Pig on Wheels Ltd, Bintwo, Bipsham Green Brewery Company Ltd, Hanging Ditch Wine Merchants , John Gordons, Lockett Brothers Ltd, Campbell Moore Ltd T/A The Wine Cellar, Wines of the World)
The first thing you notice is the rounded rich berry of Cabernet, then some plummy berry characters kick in along with earthy spicy notes too, maybe not a keeper, but it’s very tasty now, with a bold but fresh finish. S
(the winery website should be www.tmv.co.za, but that URL didn’t work for me…)

The Liberator Episode 2 The Unsung Hero 2008, Swartland (£12.50 Wheyfeed Ltd, George Hill of Loughborough, Whistle Wines, Cape Wine & Food, Cornelius Beer & Wine, Define Food & Wine, Hanging Ditch Wine Merchants, Spen Valley Wines, Vin Neuf Limited, Woodwinters wines and whiskies, Bentley`s Wine Merchants, Corkscrew Wines, New Forest Wines, Harrogate Fine Wine, Duncan Murray Wines, Pig On Wheels Ltd, Sommelier Wine Company Ltd)
Hmmm… I like the rum and raisin aromas and flavours, and there’s also a touch of chocolate, but it’s just too volatile for pleasure. C

Mullineux Syrah 2008, Swartland (£16.95 Berry Bros & Rudd)
Lovely fragrant wine, rich, seductive and exotic, with a ginger tinge to plummy berry and orange peel flesh, touches of rum and raisin ice cream along with herbs and spice, and all kept in check by a backbone of minerality and tannin. Rich, classy and very moreish. G-

Waterford Kevin Arnold Shiraz 2007, Stellenbosch (£19.50 Vineking, Hailsham Cellars, Hoults, Slurp)
Pleasant forest fruit flavours along with chocolate wafer biscuits, but it’s a bit too correct and feels like someone wants to make Bordeaux Syrah rather than something more untamed. B(+)

Lammershoek Zinfandel/Syrah 2007, Swartland (£10.99 Adnams, Yorkshire Vintners)
Has the sweet red berry and bramble of Zin reined in by some of the structure of Syrah, full and ripe but not OTT, and while there’s a touch of VA, it doesn’t dominate. S-

Lammershoek Roulette Rouge 2006, Swartland (£10.99 Amps Fine Wines, Bowland Forest Vintners, John Hattersley Wines, The Ledbury Wine Cellar, Winearray, Love Fine Wines, Upton-Upon-Severn Wines)
Again a touch of VA, but dissipates to show rounded plummy fruit backed up by chewy tannins and earthy minerality – sweet flavours but a dry finish. B+