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

DAG

9.6

Closest I've found to Pappy 20. Very enjoyable bourbon, made at Buffalo Trace and warehoused in Virginia by A Smith Bowman. They have three bourbon but the best by far is the Abraham. — 12 years ago

Stanislav Lobanov

9.1

16.5/20 (91/100) Сладкий, джемовый аромат черешни, чёрной смородины, ванили с оксидативными нотами рыхлого красного яблока и чайной заварки. Тельное с довольно высокой кислотностью и интенсивными, обволакивающими танинами. Старый добрый новосветский стиль. #capewine2018 — 8 years ago

Victor Woods

9.5

So smooth, almost an anejo taste. You will love it chilled and straight — 10 years ago

Dmitriy Krasny

9.5

Wow. The punch of a Dolph Lundgren... but the elegance of an F. Murray Abraham. — 11 years ago

Roberto Jurado

9.0

Great wine tasted with Italian Pizza but the best friends like Jack, Todd, Hector, Javier, Roberto and Abraham — 11 years ago

Anthony Piazza

9.1

Abraham took great care of us at Il Bucco Alimentari, little bit of grappa to get us ready to eat again. — 13 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

10

That vintage is not a misprint. Abraham Lincoln was president when is cognac was produced. And yes we are indulging in it now. Words just can't describe this. All I can say is thank you Benjy! Words cannot describe this so I will leave it to your imagination!!!! Yes it is better then you can ever predict — 9 years ago

with Frank, Bob and 1 other

Rebecca Lawrence

9.0

Great wine for the money. Rich but not too big, lovely tobacco note on the finish. — 10 years ago

with Nathan

Richard Shin

9.6

Bourbon + Coffee Finish = Yum! — 11 years ago

Chris Maddox

9.7

Had both the Barrel 1 and Barrel 5! Hot, but delicious when cut with an ice cube — 12 years ago