An Aldi exclusive wine that benefits greatly from a good decant, the Leaf Plucker Red Blend from South Africa.
A red blend from South Africa. The wine is aged in French oak for an unspecified amount of time.
The Leaf Plucker Red Blend is available exclusively at Aldi and sells for just $8.99. It is imported by Mack & Schuhle Inc.
When Thys Louw, the legendary winemaker, peered out his window, he saw in the early morning mist sheep serenely wandering through our vineyards. On closer inspection he realized they had been plucking the leaves from the vines, resulting in the summer sun reaching the grapes and ripening them to perfection!
These trusty Leaf Pluckers did their bit. The rest was up to the winemaker who fermented the grapes in open-fermenters and matured the wine in French Oak barrels. The result is a well-balanced new world style wine that shows aromas of ripe red berries and hints of dark chocolate.
14.5% Alcohol
The 2017 Leaf Plucker Red Blend begins with a good dose of green pepper (pyrazine) on the nose. At first sniff I thought I was going to hate this one but once it had some time to breathe it really grew on me. And while pyrazine is not my favorite thing, I know many people don't mind it and even enjoy it. That said, it does lessen as it has some time to breathe so be sure to give it a good decant.
Other aromas include some ripe red berries, spice and mint. Taking a sip shows a smooth, soft mouthfeel. The green pepper notes carry over when tasting but there's also loads of spice and black pepper. I'm guessing this blend has a good amount of Shiraz in it.
Mostly dry, it's not very sweet. With good structure, this is a nicely made wine. It ends with a dry, spicy, long finish.
You can also find more of our recommended red blends here!
