Release the hound! That's my motto this holiday season as I've been enjoying a terrific red wine from Mulderbosch, a South African winery located in the Stellenbosch region. It's called Faith Hound 2012 and it's quickly becoming one of man's best friends around my house. In part, that's because of the very reasonable $19.99 price tag. 

The name derives as a tribute to "Boes," the loyal dog who kept watch over the Mulderbosch farm for three years after his master's death. It's said that Boes kept watch beneath an oak tree, awaiting the return of his beloved owner. 

This complex, rich red wine is a blend of all five Bordeaux grape varieties:

Cabernet Sauvignon (29%)
Cabernet Franc (27%)
Merlot (21%) 
Malbec (13%)
Petit Verdot (10%)

Gentle extraction and a long maceration period are followed by barrel maturation: up to eighteen months in French oak barrels.

Faithful Hound is an old-world style Bordeaux blend that is a great partner for grilled meats and roasts, beef daube or hearty tomato-based pastas.