Lubanzi Red Blend South Africa 2019

HOLD UP! Stop whatever you're doing for the full 23 seconds it takes to snag some of this luminous, delicious, vibrant red. 90 POINTS, RADICALLY, dangerously priced, and truly one of the coolest two-buds-get-together-to-make-a-killer-wine stories we’ve had in many moons. $11!!!??? 

To say it takes “extra” time to import wine from South Africa is an understatement! We’ve been waiting for what seems like thirteen seasons of Shameless to have it finally land and WOW!! It’s ALL THAT ---  for $11, it just vibrates with purity and savoriness! 

The name: In 2014, while living in South Africa as exchange students, two friends/winemakers set off for a week-long backpacking expedition in the bush. On their second day, a wandering dog the locals called ‘LUBANZI'  began following them on their adventure. He stuck with them throughout the journey - for 6 days & 100 miles - until he disappeared in the middle of the night before their final morning, and he became the inspiration for this wine. 75% shiraz, 18% grenache, 7% mourvedre, and MAN, we can tell you, we LOVED it. For the price, it wildly overdelivers, with DARK, juicy shiraz, deep aromatic intensity, and a bit of sandalwood and roasting coffee beans (“torrefaction”, if you want to get all Robert Parker-y), and leaves you with a warm, Christmas-y cinnamon, allspice, clove finish. 

It’s here, we are overjoyed, and we can’t say enough at this price. While it lasts!!