Tag Archives: South Africa

KWV The Legend Big Bill Red 2014, Western Cape, South Africa

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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This blend is really dark purple.  Made up of 60% Petit Verdot, 20% each of Cab Sav and Shiraz.  The nose is bursting with currants, juniper, a touch of oak and black cherry.  The palate is very interesting and tasty.  The Petit Verdot punches through with violets, dark cherry and leather.  Tannins are persistent but not overpowering, they leave the gums slightly dry but give the wine a freshness.  The mid palate gives me mocha as well as more dark cherries.  The finish reveals a vanilla note as well as some wood.  The winemaker has done a superb job of balancing the acidity, tannins and the 14% alcohol- which is not noticeable.  The mouthfeel is what I would describe as wholesome yet fresh.  It is relatively smooth with great potential to mellow out and possibly develop tertiary flavor.  90 points from me, drink till 2025 and pair it with lamb chops and garlic mash.  5 stars because this wine rocks and it runs a mere $9 (But I found it for $6.09 in NJ, you people should be running to that store).  Salut….

the legend of big bill ridiculously big

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2010, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

13 Saturday May 2017

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I just recently had a birthday, not quite the big one, but just shy.  I had a few mates over for what turned out to be a large night.  We hit many regions and varietals, really hard.  Anyway, this was a gift from one of my South African friends, I did not drink it that night, saving it for a proper tasting night.  I’m glad I did!

A pretty purple color.  Gorgeous nose of blueberries, oak, plums and leather.  The initial taste consists of a very smooth dollop of blueberries, some fig paste and a dash of funky dryness that I can’t pinpoint.  Tannins are well integrated but there is a nagging bitterness that troubles me.  The midpalate has some very nice plums, a generous dose of acidity and some oak.  The wine finishes strong with a dusty component and more blue fruits.  This wine has a nice ‘spice meets leather and earth’ combo.  I’m digging it if not for that irksome bitterness at the front end, which drops the score to a 90.  The pros went high on this one, up to 94, but the consensus amongst the amateur crowd is in line with my rating.  This wine is pricy if bought in the US, $50+, but a very sexy and seductive version of Syrah that should be enjoyed with a nice Filet.  3 stars.  Salut….

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

Nederburg The Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paarl, South Africa

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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Dark purple in the glass.  Nose of black cherry and dark fruits.  The palate is somewhat muted, but notes of tar, black currants and cedar abound.  The wine possesses a certain level of acidity that balances the very mild tannins, which leave a drying sensation on the finish.  This wine is decent, but somewhat boring.  It does not transcend into anything different.  It is good, yet plain.  88 points is where I feel this wine sits and I would pair it with lamb chops, venison and perhaps roast Guinea fowl.  It can be found for about $12, which make it a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2013, Stellenbosch, South Africa

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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Dark and brooding in the glass it shows off Blackberry and mint on the nose.  The palate is very interesting.  Black cherry pie meets blackberries and licorice.  The tannins are delightful, packed just right.  The mid palate gives off some plum jam but is quickly overriden by the tannins.  The finish is decent in length and I am getting charcoal, blackberry and dark cherry notes.  A well made wine that has some cellaring potential.  We are pairing it with Flank steak and roasted asparagus.  90 points and for $19 is it a 4 star effort.  It is a true Bordeaux blend, comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  Salut….

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound

Riebeek Cellars Pinotage 2011

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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We want to my mate Mel’s 60th birthday bash last night and being from South Africa they had this on offer.  I love the varietal and had to try it.

See-through purple in the glass with a nose of burnt cherry and creosote, very enticing.  The initial taste is black cherry, smoke, espresso bean and some lithe tannins.  The 14% alcohol peaks through on the midpalate and promptly goes away.  The finish is of medium length and is laced with tannins and dark fruit.  88 points make this $11 wine a decent value, especially if you like the unique taste of Pinotage.  3 stars from me.  Salut….

riebeek cellars pinotage

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2011, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa

21 Saturday Jan 2017

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Disclaimer- I got this bottle from a distributor.  They retail for around $23.

Bright golden yellow.  A nose of petrol, lemons and flint, very intriguing.  On the palate, very smooth with lemon, some green apple, wet stone and very lithe acidity.  The mid palate just continues the theme right up to the long finish.  I drank this bottle with a friend who was also impressed.  I initially served it at room temperature to show off all the nuances and highlight any defects.  I found none.  I slipped the bottle into an ice bucket for the second round, which was more typical.  It really shone when chilled and I would imagine pairing it with Lobster, fettuccine Alfredo or even smoked duck salad.  This wine is reminiscent of an edgy Burgundy wine, but the use of oak is very defined and not overly lavished on it.  A nice balance and worthy of 92 points from me.  5 stars!  Salut….
Newton Johnson family vineyards chardonnay hemel-en-aarde

Nederberg The Winemasters Shiraz 2014

31 Saturday Dec 2016

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I am currently in Asia and this was the last wine I drank in 2016.  We couldn’t resist the price, $11.50 for one bottle or $13 for two.  We bought two…
Medium purple in the glass.  A nose of plum torte, black berry jam and a touch of oak.  On the palate a very delicious, fresh offering of black fruits, spice and a very mellow set of tannins with opposing acidity.  A medium length finish caps off a subtle mid palate of plum and blackberry.  Overall a nice basic Shiraz that is not over the top but offers good value and would drink well with burgers, BBQ ribs or the kebab sandwiches we eventually ordered!  87 points from me make this a solid 3 star wine.  Salut….
nederburg the winemaster shiraz

Kanonkop Pinotage 2013

16 Saturday Jul 2016

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Nearly black in complexion showed me that this is a very extracted wine.  The nose is somewhat muted but a few swirls in the glass begin to reveal some black cherries and the telltale tar/creosote that makes Pinotage so unique.  It is a cross breed of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut only found in South Africa.

The first taste is all I expected.  Smoke, bramble and cherry hints are all present.  Licorice presents itself halfway through.  The wine offers a short burst of tannin followed by that tarry mid palate taste that I really enjoy from this varietal.  It has a nice mouthfeel, crossing from the tannic thrust over to a slightly tart acidic finish that carries some earthy components.  I like this wine a lot.  The 14.5% alcohol is well masked, making this a great pairing with some grilled beef.  I would drink this over the next 5 years at the least.  91 points and 4 stars for this $38 offering.  Salut….

kanonkop pinitage

 

Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011

02 Saturday Apr 2016

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This is the second wine I have had from this South African winery.  The first was  similar blend but with Cabernet Franc thrown in as well.  Vergelegen Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc.

Back to this wine….  Dark purple in the glass spelt out what to expect.  A nose of black plums, earth and iodine.  The initial taste is amazing.  A hint of violets come over after the waves of black berry, plum jam and spicebox.  A fine set of tannins swirls around at the finish to leave a nice mouthfeel.  The mid palate is balanced and smooth with some acidity that balances the whole thing out.  I am really enjoying this wine!

The judicious use of oak is apparent.  A finish of coffee and a touch of vanilla make this an easy drinking red that will go great all by itself or hang in there with a juicy New York strip, even some pasta with a spicy sauce.  I would guess a drinking window up to 2020 at least, with it open for business right now.

It was on sale for just over $11 and gets an easy 91 point score from me.  I will be buying this in bulk, a stunner and worthy of 5 stars easily.  Salut…..

vergelegen cabernet sauvignon merllot 2011

Grape Grinder Pinotage 2013

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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We went out to dinner with friends and I was intrigued by this South African offering.  It retails for $13 in stores but did not get great peer reviews.

Coffee. Lots of it, on the nose, palate and finish.  Earth and dark mocha in the initial surge with sour cherries on the mid palate. Typical pinotage but with a gruff ending. I made brief comments about Iodine and Beef Jerky flavors.  87 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

grinder pinotage