2015 was an exceptional year in South Africa for both red and white wines. The 2015 Marvelous Blue draws inspiration from the classic Bordeaux varieties. It’s a deeply colored wine that retains a bright, vital appearance.
Taking the lead in the 2015 blend is Cabernet Franc sourced from Stellenbosch and Elgin, followed by Elgin sourced Merlot. Cool Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of blueberries, cassis, and moist tobacco are supported by invigorating cedar wood notes.
The finely structured palate, with its thread of acidity, thanks to the inclusion of Stellenbosch Petit Verdot, displays a deep well of flavor long on Cabernet Franc herbal notes and juicy Merlot and Malbec fruit. The savory notes of forest floor are offset by a dense, sweet-fruited appeal and an almost balsamic reduction creating a penetrating, lifted finish.
Winemaking Notes
Our winemaking approach relies on the use of minimal intervention, rather focusing on identifying unique vineyard sites and striving to harvest as early in the season as possible in pursuit of naturally balanced wines.
Whilst all the wines are matured to some degree in oak barrels, we chose to use ‘neutral’ or older oak casks so as not to overwhelm the varietal grape flavors with that of powerful new oak. (Understanding the complexity of the winemaking process but knowing when not to interfere is a Marvelous approach).
Marvelous Wines to celebrate the spirit of wonder that has accompanied wine throughout the ages. We firmly believe that wine does not have to be over-complicated in order to be great. Rather the choice of occasion and selection of wine to accompany that occasion have the ability to turn an average experience into something great. (Don’t settle for ordinary, chose to be Marvelous!).
Specs
Vintage: 2015
Blend:
Cabernet Franc: 33%
Merlot: 23%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 20%
Malbec: 16%
Petit Verdot: 8%
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1.9 g/L
Titratable acid: 5.2 g/L
pH: 3.65
Volatile acidity: .6 g/L
SO2: 19/65 mg/L
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
4x 2015 Marvelous Blue Red Blend, South Africa
Case:
12x 2015 Marvelous Blue Red Blend, South Africa
Price Comparison
$360 for a Case/$30 MSRP/Not for sale on the website
About The Winery
Winery: Marvelous Wines
Founded: 2010
Location: South Africa
A desire to produce affordable, freshly styled wines from the incredible diversity of vineyards across the Western Cape resulted in the creation of Marvelous Wines. (Dreaming a concept and seeing it to fruition is a Marvelous feeling).
The wines are boldly labelled using a striking woodcut font that harks back to an era of artisanal printing techniques, much the same way in which each of these wines celebrates a classic winemaking style. (Celebrating tradition whilst embracing change is a Marvelous point of view).
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Marvelous Blue South African Red Blend
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $134.99 $11.25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2015 Marvelous Blue South African Red Blend - $30 = 18.17%
@netcommsyn Since I’m going to be within the confines of my home I’ll sit back and wait for comments from those who have tasted this wine, then determine if it’s a bargain.
@netcommsyn At first I was inclined to disagree with you. I’m no Advocate of Wine Spectator (90 point wines are not objectively better than 89, why start a 100 point scale at 50 and why not use the bottom third of your distribution?) but I made a New Year’s Resolution to avoid disparaging the things that annoy me (hand sanitizer hoarders, Millennials, Winter rain, etc.) First of all, keep in mind that interpreting Wine Spectator’s own score range is far more useful than the precise point value:
Now, controlling for region (California only) and comparing 2015 reviews to 2019 seems to confirm your point. In 2015 the majority of wines (1,358) scored ‘Very Good’, but by 2019 the majority (1,257) scored ‘Outstanding’, with the median of the distribution increasing by 6 percentage points:
I tried controlling for price, removing the cheap swill that I usually drink, but this exacerbated the difference. It only removed about 15% of reviews in either year, and in 2019 a whopping 66% of WS wines reviewed were rated ‘Outstanding’. Outstanding indeed!
Speaking of reviews would be nice if we saw the words/description of reviews… not just Tim Atkins 92 and then some canned winery note that is not the review that is referenced.
Not sure why there is so much pessimism around here. Dow futures are up 3%, looks like it is going to be an up day! I don’t really care whether or not y’all buy the wine, but a Cab Franc lead Bordeaux blend from a far off place that has good weather and geology for $11 seems a pretty small risk in these uncertain times.
@TimW So does that make this South African wine more or less risky than those 30 US stocks?
PS Apologies to all the retired (or nearly retired, or would-have-been retired) folks out there who are watching their years of hard-earned savings dive. I’m young enough to see this as a tremendous opportunity but I know many don’t (or can’t) see it that way!
@KitMarlot@TimW About-to-be retired. I’m not planning to draw down my retirement accts for a few years, I’m just going to live on the wine I’ve accumulated.
@KitMarlot@TimW Thanks, @winedavid49, for fostering the retirement-saving habit in me for all these years. The only investment I have left that’s still worth anything.
I’m always cautious about wines from South Africa. While they seem (to me) to have improved over the years, I have too many memories of “burnt rubber” (or as a former “wine guy” at my Trader Joe’s called it, “Curad bandaid”) flavor.
@Mark_L That’s an older take on SA wines, when there were virus-infected vines and sizable amounts of uncredited Pinotage in the red blends, which is what contributed to the tastes you describe. Mulderbosch (who makes this wine) is a first-rate producer.
@borisgoodenough@kaolis@Mark_L There is no question that South African wines have improved considerably, and can be very good. I’ve had several, mostly in restaurants (a South African place in NYC had several good ones) or gifts from friends who’d traveled to SA and tasted wines there and had learned about outstanding producers to look for and wines to consider and wines to avoid.
Nonetheless, I think a certain amount of caution is only prudent given the history of so much very bad South African wine that found its way to world markets. I’ve actually heard the ‘Curad bandage’ description before…
Information like the overall high reputation of the producer here (Mulderbosch) is the kind of thing we need to know. Others with more experience of South African wines, please weigh in!
@Mark_L I agree they’ve improved, but it’s hard to forget some of those in the old days that gave (me) a distinct impression of old railroad ties. But I’ve never been a real fan of Cab F., so with an overloaded cellar, this is easy to pass up.
Tasting Notes
92 Points – Tim Atkin
2015 was an exceptional year in South Africa for both red and white wines. The 2015 Marvelous Blue draws inspiration from the classic Bordeaux varieties. It’s a deeply colored wine that retains a bright, vital appearance.
Taking the lead in the 2015 blend is Cabernet Franc sourced from Stellenbosch and Elgin, followed by Elgin sourced Merlot. Cool Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of blueberries, cassis, and moist tobacco are supported by invigorating cedar wood notes.
The finely structured palate, with its thread of acidity, thanks to the inclusion of Stellenbosch Petit Verdot, displays a deep well of flavor long on Cabernet Franc herbal notes and juicy Merlot and Malbec fruit. The savory notes of forest floor are offset by a dense, sweet-fruited appeal and an almost balsamic reduction creating a penetrating, lifted finish.
Winemaking Notes
Our winemaking approach relies on the use of minimal intervention, rather focusing on identifying unique vineyard sites and striving to harvest as early in the season as possible in pursuit of naturally balanced wines.
Whilst all the wines are matured to some degree in oak barrels, we chose to use ‘neutral’ or older oak casks so as not to overwhelm the varietal grape flavors with that of powerful new oak. (Understanding the complexity of the winemaking process but knowing when not to interfere is a Marvelous approach).
Marvelous Wines to celebrate the spirit of wonder that has accompanied wine throughout the ages. We firmly believe that wine does not have to be over-complicated in order to be great. Rather the choice of occasion and selection of wine to accompany that occasion have the ability to turn an average experience into something great. (Don’t settle for ordinary, chose to be Marvelous!).
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$360 for a Case/$30 MSRP/Not for sale on the website
About The Winery
Winery: Marvelous Wines
Founded: 2010
Location: South Africa
A desire to produce affordable, freshly styled wines from the incredible diversity of vineyards across the Western Cape resulted in the creation of Marvelous Wines. (Dreaming a concept and seeing it to fruition is a Marvelous feeling).
The wines are boldly labelled using a striking woodcut font that harks back to an era of artisanal printing techniques, much the same way in which each of these wines celebrates a classic winemaking style. (Celebrating tradition whilst embracing change is a Marvelous point of view).
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, April 16th - Monday, April 20th
Marvelous Blue South African Red Blend
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $134.99 $11.25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2015 Marvelous Blue
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2015 Marvelous Blue South African Red Blend - $30 = 18.17%
not a particular bargain. Remember ratings have been artificially inflated by almost 10 points in the last 10 years and trending upwards
@netcommsyn Since I’m going to be within the confines of my home I’ll sit back and wait for comments from those who have tasted this wine, then determine if it’s a bargain.
@netcommsyn At first I was inclined to disagree with you. I’m no Advocate of Wine Spectator (90 point wines are not objectively better than 89, why start a 100 point scale at 50 and why not use the bottom third of your distribution?) but I made a New Year’s Resolution to avoid disparaging the things that annoy me (hand sanitizer hoarders, Millennials, Winter rain, etc.) First of all, keep in mind that interpreting Wine Spectator’s own score range is far more useful than the precise point value:
Now, controlling for region (California only) and comparing 2015 reviews to 2019 seems to confirm your point. In 2015 the majority of wines (1,358) scored ‘Very Good’, but by 2019 the majority (1,257) scored ‘Outstanding’, with the median of the distribution increasing by 6 percentage points:
I tried controlling for price, removing the cheap swill that I usually drink, but this exacerbated the difference. It only removed about 15% of reviews in either year, and in 2019 a whopping 66% of WS wines reviewed were rated ‘Outstanding’. Outstanding indeed!
PS this lockdown is making me crazy…
@KitMarlot @netcommsyn
Perhaps 2019 was a 6% better vintage than 2015?
Crazy?
Absolutely.
@KitMarlot @netcommsyn This guy Maths!
https://michaelolivier.co.za/archives/marvelous-blue-2015-hein-van-tonders-cider-cooked-apple-onion-cheddar-galette-22-07-2017/
Who is Michael Olivier???.. no idea … so…
fwiw
Speaking of reviews would be nice if we saw the words/description of reviews… not just Tim Atkins 92 and then some canned winery note that is not the review that is referenced.
Wow, reading the comments so far, “The sea is angry today my friends”
Not sure why there is so much pessimism around here. Dow futures are up 3%, looks like it is going to be an up day! I don’t really care whether or not y’all buy the wine, but a Cab Franc lead Bordeaux blend from a far off place that has good weather and geology for $11 seems a pretty small risk in these uncertain times.
@KitMarlot and now the Dow is down 2.36%
@TimW So does that make this South African wine more or less risky than those 30 US stocks?
PS Apologies to all the retired (or nearly retired, or would-have-been retired) folks out there who are watching their years of hard-earned savings dive. I’m young enough to see this as a tremendous opportunity but I know many don’t (or can’t) see it that way!
@KitMarlot @TimW About-to-be retired. I’m not planning to draw down my retirement accts for a few years, I’m just going to live on the wine I’ve accumulated.
@KitMarlot @TimW Thanks, @winedavid49, for fostering the retirement-saving habit in me for all these years. The only investment I have left that’s still worth anything.
I’m always cautious about wines from South Africa. While they seem (to me) to have improved over the years, I have too many memories of “burnt rubber” (or as a former “wine guy” at my Trader Joe’s called it, “Curad bandaid”) flavor.
@Mark_L That’s an older take on SA wines, when there were virus-infected vines and sizable amounts of uncredited Pinotage in the red blends, which is what contributed to the tastes you describe. Mulderbosch (who makes this wine) is a first-rate producer.
@borisgoodenough @Mark_L agree…man there was some bad bad pinotage
@borisgoodenough @kaolis @Mark_L There is no question that South African wines have improved considerably, and can be very good. I’ve had several, mostly in restaurants (a South African place in NYC had several good ones) or gifts from friends who’d traveled to SA and tasted wines there and had learned about outstanding producers to look for and wines to consider and wines to avoid.
Nonetheless, I think a certain amount of caution is only prudent given the history of so much very bad South African wine that found its way to world markets. I’ve actually heard the ‘Curad bandage’ description before…
Information like the overall high reputation of the producer here (Mulderbosch) is the kind of thing we need to know. Others with more experience of South African wines, please weigh in!
@Mark_L I agree they’ve improved, but it’s hard to forget some of those in the old days that gave (me) a distinct impression of old railroad ties. But I’ve never been a real fan of Cab F., so with an overloaded cellar, this is easy to pass up.
/giphy patronizing-portly-platinum
/giphy determines-satisfying-rain
