Alpha Bravo Charlie Merlot NV

Alpha Bravo Charlie is a wine brand that was created by Alwyn Liebenberg, the winemaker of Lieben Wines. However, I think it is important to separate this wine from all the other wines labelled under the Lieben label. The Alpha Bravo Charlie (ABC) signifies to me that this wine was made with the concept of flexibility: restaurants can make this their house wine, you can work with unlabelled wines, you can change the name if you want to… For example, the bottle shown in the picture is Alpha Bravo Charlie De Kloof, as it is the house wine of the De Kloof Restaurant in Pretoria. As a non-vintage wine, the winemaker attempts to maintain more of a house style and, therefore, striving for consistency over time.

In the glass, this wine has a deep ruby colour. It is forthcoming on the nose with a mixture of black fruit, red fruit and Christmas spices. It has a very fruity entrance and balances evenly over the entire palate. On the mid-palate, blackberries, ripe black cherries, red plums, tobacco leaf and cinnamon take turns against some soft grainy tannins. It has a medium finish of red fruit and a hint of spice that remains behind.

The Alpha Bravo Charlie Merlot is an easy-drinking wine (and it is clear that it is intentional) that can be enjoyed on its own or with food. At De Kloof Restaurant, they are currently pairing the Alpha Bravo Charlie Merlot with an eland fillet with blueberry and chocolate sauce. I have tried this wine with a medium hot lamb curry and it created the perfect contrast to the curry, so I could enjoy the best that both had to offer. Whether you are a Merlot-drinker or not, I think that this wine is quite a bargain for everyday-drinking.

Producer: Lieben Wines

Variety: Merlot

Vintage: NV

Origin: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

Winemaker: Alwyn Liebenberg

Closure: Cork

Alcohol: %

Average price: R70

Rating: 87/100