Tasting Notes

Our taste panel dubbed Safari's Merlot as "a Merlot for Cab drinkers." Brimming with lush blackberry, the wine stands out as a red that successfully combines tannin strength with fruity juiciness. While so-called "critter wines" (those with whimsical animals starring on the label) are often disparaged for not having serious structure, this one shines as a notable exception. We think you will instantly warm up its notable heft-hinted at by the mammoth elephant on the bottle. Drink now through 2009.

Winery Story

What's in a name? Real estate developer Carl Ross must believe there's something. Ross has given the name of one of his life's passions to a variety of pieces in his life, including his 1.3 million-square foot Safari Business Park in Ontario, California, and his daughter, Safari. And then there's his Safari Vineyards.

With the grapes coming from his vineyard in Cool, California, in the Sierra Foothills, Safari is striving to make the area's best wines. It's a major-league goal that's not unusual for Ross, who thrives on the thrill of big-game hunting. Except for the grapes he reserves for the Safari brand, Ross sells much of his fruit to Napa heavyweights like Niebaum-Coppola. But the amount he sells off is shrinking as Ross invests more of his time and passion into the productions of his own products. And with the quality and recognition this little winery is starting to get, it won't be long before wine lovers begin their own hunt for Safari wines.