2006 Black Pearl Vineyards Oro

Opaque purple in the glass, with a nose of chocolate, smoked bacon, and nutmeg. (Chocolate and bacon is a great combination, in fact.) Opens up tantalizingly but with great promise on the palate, with long, expressive flavors of black currant and nuts, perhaps pistachios. The Shiraz and Cabernet are in fine balance, ending in a languorous finish. A really splendid wine. Try it with really good, true, smoky BBQ brisket (which may be as difficult to find, or more so, than the wine if you are outside of Texas.)

WHO: Black Pearl Vineyards Oro
WHAT: Shiraz (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (60%)
WHERE: Paarl, South Africa
WHEN: 2006
HOW MUCH: $15