WTN: Mostly modest So. Africa and So. Rhone

Notes from dinner at Cafe Ysabel with wines supplied by Dondi Joseph. Most of these wines are around $6 to $15 and are mostly very good value.

Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2006 - Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay. Sweetish nose. Rich. High alcohol. Gentle oak. Mellow but finishes crisp if rather abrupt. Not bad.

Kaapzicht Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - Crisp, light, gentle. Citrus rind. Very easy to drink.

Cape West Sauvignon Blanc - NV? Dryish, light. Not too interesting. If I remember right, this is a French wine.

Gabriel Meffre Laurus Cotes du Rhone Villages 2006 - Darkish, earthy. 14% alcohol but you don't feel it. Dried fruit, mostly cherry. Quite nice.

Gabriel Meffre Les Pierres Brissees Cotes du Rhone 2007 - Real juicy and friendly.

Domaine de Longue Toque Gigondas 2004 - Owned by Gabriel Meffre. Fragrant wood. Firm. Perhaps needs another year or two to express itself better. For now, somewhat muted.

Meerendal Pinotage 2007 - Typical Pinotage burnt rubber nose. Quite a lot of acidity. Juicy and soft. Smells like peated whisky. A decent Pinotage.

Los 3 Bandidos Grenache VdP d'Oc 2006 - From the same folks who brought you Fat Bastard. Milk chocolate. Sweet, ripe. Very spicy. Really nice. A bargain at around $ 8.

I haven't seen the Roulette white, but their red used to be one I liked very much when it used to be available here: sometimes bretty, big and brawny. I wonder how I would like it now that I am less tolerant of big wines.

We have seen a few of Meffre's Laurus series (Crozes and Côte Rôtie, possibly something else too). I thought they were very decent but not in the top class. I have mostly seen very negative views expressed about them, so I wonder if they have in recent years improved? At least the '04s and '05s that I tried were fine.