Wine Review: Fairview Goats Do Roam in Villages 2007, $16

The Goats Do Roam in Villages is one of those ideal bring-to-a-party wines. It has a funny name, a nice label, it’s not too pricey, and – most importantly – it’s a very good, approachable wine. The cheeky play on the French classic Côtes du Rhône-Villages gave me a good laugh the first time a co-worker told me about this wine a few years ago, and I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it that the wine itself captured the same sense of playfulness as its title.

Made in South Africa on a goat farm, the blend of 80 percent Shiraz, 6.5 percent Pinotage and 3.5 percent Mourvèdre is aged separately in oak for 14 months and then blended and bottled with minimal filtration to maximize flavor. There’s a nice interplay of dark plum flavors, aromatic spices and a pleasing, not-too-harsh pop of black pepper. If you want something similar, but on the lighter side, look for the yellow-label of the Goats Do Roam (without the “in Villages”) – it’s a bit cheaper still, and is also a great party wine.

Quaffability Rating: 90