Beeslaar
Stellenbosch Pinotage
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, Western Cape, South Africa
Whew. She’s big, she’s dark, she’s smoky, and she’s rich, bitch. Probably the best Pinotage on the market.
Whew. She’s big, she’s dark, she’s smoky, and she’s rich, bitch. Probably the best Pinotage on the market.
Apr 25th, 2019
Last of the twelve red wines at our annual DMV South African wine tasting. Deep purplish ruby red. Took some time to open up on the nose with cocoa, red plums, cassis and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with well integrated acidity. A bit lighter than expected on the body but gained some heftiness and weight with air. Full bodied with dark sweet spices, anise, black raspberries, dark berries, cocoa and blueberries. A touch creamy in the long finish. Drink till 2023.
Last of the twelve red wines at our annual DMV South African wine tasting. Deep purplish ruby red. Took some time to open up on the nose with cocoa, red plums, cassis and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with well integrated acidity. A bit lighter than expected on the body but gained some heftiness and weight with air. Full bodied with dark sweet spices, anise, black raspberries, dark berries, cocoa and blueberries. A touch creamy in the long finish. Drink till 2023.
Mar 5th, 2018
Smells and tastes like expensive winemaking aka the new french oak is rife but you wanna know‽ I don’t mind. It makes this Pinotage nummicious (industry lingo). It. Is. Friendly. And tasty. Let us parallel it to to my unabashed love for Taylor Swift. Is it designed for all to love? Sure. Does it have a hearty that wants the best behind it? Yes! A lot and it fucking rocks. Not sure of this wine’s politics. But.
I love it even though it clearly wants the masses to buy in. This is not eccentric or out of the box Pinotage but it is excellence.
Smells and tastes like expensive winemaking aka the new french oak is rife but you wanna know‽ I don’t mind. It makes this Pinotage nummicious (industry lingo). It. Is. Friendly. And tasty. Let us parallel it to to my unabashed love for Taylor Swift. Is it designed for all to love? Sure. Does it have a hearty that wants the best behind it? Yes! A lot and it fucking rocks. Not sure of this wine’s politics. But.
I love it even though it clearly wants the masses to buy in. This is not eccentric or out of the box Pinotage but it is excellence.
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.
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.
Pinotage at its best, strangely appealing
Pinotage at its best, strangely appealing
Apr 27th, 2016
First time for this Pinotage! Awesome wine. Loaded with Berry fruits that jump from the glass. Coming soon to NJ this December! Must try, little pricey in 50$ range. CB 95
First time for this Pinotage! Awesome wine. Loaded with Berry fruits that jump from the glass. Coming soon to NJ this December! Must try, little pricey in 50$ range. CB 95
Nov 4th, 2015
Fruity, jammy wine that is a good match for Margarita pizza. Leave it open at least one hour and it will become more elegant with some licorice flavors emerging.
Fruity, jammy wine that is a good match for Margarita pizza. Leave it open at least one hour and it will become more elegant with some licorice flavors emerging.
May 20th, 2023