Michael Chelus

9.0

Apple, lemon, tangerine, peach and mango. Great acidity and minerality. — 6 months ago

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. — 5 years ago

Ron from VA

8.9

A pleasant low altitude rendering of this Acid friendly varietal… This can be summed up as a deliciously lush/creamy pineapple-driven mineral bomb. Simple yet complex. 3 full years from harvest = elegant. — a year ago

Violet B

9.7

Really easy drinking. Had this one at my bachlorette winery tour day. It was awesome. So great this morning in mimosas! Only one bottle left, sad that I don't live closer to this winery, they had many tasty ones! — 8 years ago

with Chuck

Ina Robinson

9.1

Light and refreshing — 9 years ago

Gregory Joiner

9.0

Well balanced. A great compliment to spicy foods. A subtle attack leads to a balanced mid pallete with a tarry finish. — 9 years ago

Michael Chelus

8.9

Blackberry, cherry, raspberry, currant, vanilla, plum and oak. Good structure and moderate tannins. — 5 years ago

Drake Ma

9.5

Really fruity sweet blend. — 8 years ago

Ryan Drake

8.9

little sweet for my taste
— 9 years ago

Timothy Anderson

9.1

A little sweetness in this smooth drinking red blend. Very good wines that I only rarely get when driving by Dahlgren as this winery only sells on their estate. — 9 years ago