Plum, blackberry, licorice, black pepper, sage, leather and tar.

Old-vine Shiraz and Cinsault is the base of this wine, which is intentionally made in a softer, fruitier style to lend the wine extra drinkability and to match a wider range of food. A small portion of Viognier was co-fermented with the Shiraz to contribute softness to the palate and some floral notes to the aroma. Other pleasing notes include black fruits, sage, tarragon and leather. On the palate, juicy red-berry fruit flavors with hints of boysenberry and blood orange are backed by a soft palate and accessible tannins.

Essay Wines is an affiliated project of MAN Vintners, the brainchild of three successful vintners and good friends who wanted to launch a wine label together as a team. The best known of the three is Charles Back, owner of the highly regarded Fairview winery and widely considered to be one of the leading visionaries of the South African wine scene. Essay wines are unconventional blends of varieties that the partners discovered do best in the un-irrigated vineyards of the Voor-Paardeberg/Swartland region, where the slate soils combined with traditional bush-vines make for ripe and expressive wines with a touch of exotic spice. The name Essay, a word play on S.A. (South Africa), reflects the founders' love of South African terroir.

You can drink the Essay on its own with a piece of sharp Cheddar cheese, but it probably deserves a hearty meal like our Braised Lamb Shanks with Garlic and Indian Spices. Serve with a green salad on the side, and all will be singing your praises.

The owners say this is a wine to take into the bush while tracking big game! For those of us in America, it's entirely appropriate for more modest activities at home or around the grill.