Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

We have been working on our South Africa and Egypt trip for months. Diligently doing research and talking about it daily.

One of our stops will be a week on the Western Cape or as many define it, Stellenbosch. It has always been on my wine region bucket list for its wines and beauty. One of my goals was to find some excellent producers of Pinotage.

This Beeslaar is the private label of the Winemaker at Kanonkop, Abrie Beeslaar. Abrie makes a black label Kanonkop that sells retail at $200. That’s right, $200! It must be deliriously good if they can get $200 for it.

I found this 2016 Beeslaar at K&L for just under $37. It’s the 1st Pinotage that has my eyes wide open as to what can’t be done with this difficult varietal in the right hands. If his private label is this good, I hope to visit Kanonkop and taste their black label.

The nose reveals; dark chocolate raisins, dark eastern spices, plum and black cherry, blueberries, baked strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black raisin currants, smokiness and grilled meats, black pepper and a touch of white, some green vegetal notes, cinnamon, dark chocolate mocha bar, dark fruit steeped tea, gravely schist, touch of coffee grounds, dark fruit roll-ups, leather, tobacco with ash with fresh, dark red & blue florals.

The body is full, thick and rich. There is a dark, tarry, dusty tannin structure. This will benefit from 3-5 years plus in bottle but, it is crazy good. Sound, firm; structure, big tension, long length and very good balance. Dark chocolate raisins, smokiness and grilled meats, dark eastern spices that brings pronounced heat to the palate, black plum, plum and black cherry, blueberries, baked strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, raspberries, black raisin currants, dark berry bubblegum, black pepper and a touch of white, tree bark with a touch of sap, some green vegetal notes, cinnamon, dark chocolate mocha bar, dark fruit steeped tea, gravely schist, dry stones, touch of coffee grounds, dark fruit roll-ups, new un-smoothed leather, tobacco with ash with fresh, dark red & blue florals. The acidity is round and splendid. The elegant, rich finish runs ripe fruits to dry tannins with dusty earth and shows an even tug of war with its fruits and earthiness.

It drinks like a combination of; Grand Cru Gamay, Shiraz and Northern Rhône.

I will be getting more of this and forgetting about it for 5 more years. Can’t wait for that moment and noting the changes.

This wine raises my excitement level for our trip with each sip.

Pinotage is a grape variety made from a cross of Pinot Noir & Cinsaut that was created in South Africa in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University...making it one of the youngest grape varietals.

Photos of; a shot of just how beautiful Cape vineyards can be, Winemaker-Abrie Beeslaar, Pinotage fruit near harvest and field-hands harvesting their very tall vines. Beeslaar has no Cellar Door currently. — 7 years ago

Conrad Presgrave Payne

9.0

Enjoyed it with a chicken curry. Another easy drinking South African red. — 9 years ago

PE Mouton

9.3

A taste of Northern Rhône in ZA, just smashing. — 9 years ago

TPetty

10

Floral and light. Perfect for summer — 10 years ago

Maureen Sande-Munyi

10

Friday night unwinding made perfect with a bottle of good wine. Even when you're out of crackers and have to lay your cheese on Ryvita! 😄 #tgif #pinotage #wineoclock #unwind #fridaynight #fridayfeeling #helloweekend #thankful — 10 years ago

Joakim Bogström

9.3

Very much Northern Rhone. Peppery, smokey. Give it a few years, and it’ll rise more. — 7 years ago

Peter Coulthard

9.2

A surprisingly great red - as others have said. A very drinkable wine, but of smokiness to it, bold and quite red fruity. — 8 years ago

Rose’s Cafe

9.2

95% Syrah & 5% viognier...who’d have thought, but it’s good! — 8 years ago

Menno van Zaanen

9.0

Slightly sour, fresh and a little oily. — 8 years ago

Chris N

9.0

A very agreeable Chardonnay. — 9 years ago

Lauren Talan

9.8

Very light and tasty. Hints of apple and pear and citrus. Delish! — 9 years ago

Chris N

10

It's a really really really good rose! Light, summery, refreshing. — 10 years ago

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.1

Interesting blend — 8 years ago

Menno van Zaanen

9.2

Nice, full wine. — 8 years ago

Menno van Zaanen

9.1

Soft, full of taste — 8 years ago

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.1

My notes said "pepper, pepper and pepper." Peppery front, peppery mid palate, peppery finish. Slate, crushed rock and smoke also prevalent. Cool climate style like northern Rhone. — 8 years ago

Emilie Cadotte

9.0

Vin de Annie Archambault — 9 years ago

Eileen McVeigh

9.4

This was the 2015. Very full bodied but no bitter or acidic after taste. Incredibly smooth. Great pairing with steak — 9 years ago

Tshepiso Sebolai

9.3

Mellow but rich in flavour — 9 years ago

Jo

9.0

Quite sweet. Very smooth. Definitely buy again. Majestic 11.99 — 10 years ago