Ernie Els Big Easy Red 2018

As the name suggests the Big Easy is bold in flavor and yet easy in demeanor. Pure, ripe, purple and red fruits immediately leap out the glass in an array of complexity, amplified by hints of rose petals and boiled sweets. Warm notes of milk chocolate and roasted coffee round off wonderful complexity and depth. The syrah-dominated palate is juicy and succulent with the Cabernet Sauvignon backbone providing an inky structure. A dash of Rhone varieties give a dried, provincial-herb edge to the exquisitely balanced finish.

61% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre, 4% Viognier, 4% Cinsault. Ernie Els Wines has been synonymous for creating acclaimed red wines for over a decade. In 1999, the concept of Ernie Els Wines was born. With the help of award-winning winemaker, Louis Strydom, the maiden 2000 vintage of Ernie Els Signature (a classic Bordeaux blend) was produced. The synergy between the wine and Ernie's classic golf swing were apparent—He has even been quoted as saying that "wine is like golf—in both endeavors nature has the last ruling." In 2004, a beautiful 178-acre property was chosen on the north-facing slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, outside the picturesque town of Stellensbosch and within its infamous "Golden Triangle," a unique patch of land where some of South Africa's best red wines are grown and made. And, it has been the home of Ernie Els Wines ever since. Big Easy epitomizes and reflects Ernie's style; big in stature, gentle in character. The synergies between this fine wine and Ernie's easy swing are uniquely apparent. Full bodied, accessible, and simply delightful.