Tag Archives: South Africa

Meerlust Rubicon 2005, Stellenbosch, South Africa

22 Monday May 2023

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Medium garnet colored, this mature looking wine has high viscosity legs (14% ABV) and a touch of bricking on the rim.  The nose has intense aromas of cedar, tobacco, ripe cassis, dried black plum, balsamic, coffee, cocoa powder, blueberry ganache, purple licorice, a medicinal note (from oak I presume), crushed rocks and spring flowers- a truly amazing bouquet.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins that are very well integrated yet show some grip in this 18 year old blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The palate follows the nose, but with less intensity, more structure and a full body.  The finish is slightly tart but long, reminiscent of Old World Bordeaux, to which this wine is modeled.  It’s a stunning bottle that is drinking en pointe and will do so for another 5-10 years.  It originally got 91 points with newer vintages running in the $40 range.  This bottle gets 94 points from me, had it been a touch more powerful on the palate it would have scored even higher.  Amazing stuff that has rewarded many years of cellaring.  Salut….

Remhoogte ‘Aspect’ Merlot 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

03 Wednesday May 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, black licorice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar slate and blackberry pie.  The palate is dry with crunchy medium tannins, medium acidity and a full body.  The black fruits coat my mouth and the oak nuances balance them out.  The finish is a touch tart, reminiscent of underripe blackberries.  It’s a silky affair with nice structure and good length that runs $24 and gets 91 points from me.  I would pair this wine with Filet, the tannins befitting the cut.  Drink till 2027.  5 stars.  Salut….

M.A.N. Family Wines MAN Vintners ‘Bosstok’ Pinotage 2016, Paarl, South Africa

14 Friday Apr 2023

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Medium ruby with a touch of garnet on the rim with a watery sheen (14% ABV).  The nose has classic Pinotage aromas of ripe raspberry, red plum, creosote, blackberry, a touch of vanilla and dark red licorice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins.  Medium bodied, I get dark red fruit flavors with the tar note I love in this varietal.  Blackberry sneaks in as does some licorice, both black and dark red.  The mouthfeel is a touch astringent at the back end where the finish is medium in length.  Charred wood and blackberry are the two main flavors that are left.  I like this wine and will pair it tonight alongside Cowboy steaks with baked spuds and grilled asparagus.  89 points from me for this $8, yes, eight bones, bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  Drink this vintage till 2025.  Salut….

Remhoogte Reserve ‘Honeybunch’ Chenin Blanc 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale gold colored with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of Meyer lemon, ginger, white flower, pink grapefruit, citrus pith, a touch of brioche and honeysuckle.  The palate has hint of sweetness, or else it is from really ripe fruit but it reminds me of honey.  Medium (+) acidity leads to a pretty full body. The flavors of Meyer lemon and grapefruit coat my mouth along with the florals and some bitterness from citrus pith.  The use of oak maturation and a bit of skin contact leave this with with a rounded mouthfeel that has a bitterness that I am enjoying.  It’s not a buttery, oaked Chard yet it has similar traits to one that has seen a deft hand.  I like it.  The finish is medium (+) in length and the citrus bows out early, leaving some brioche/vanilla and baking spice notes to carry through to the end.  For $25, this is a great wine to pair with grilled salmon or roast chicken.  My particular pairing is a vegetarian Tagine with lots of spices, preserved lemon and toasted almonds.  I would drink it over the next few years.  It gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Salut….

Kruger Family Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Nieuwoudtville, South Africa

15 Wednesday Feb 2023

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Medium lemon colored with a watery sheen on the walls (13% ABV).  The nose has aromas of lemon, lanolin, melon, passion fruit and a hint of cut grass- not as intense as a Kiwi Sav Blanc.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  The citrus kicks things off with lemon zest followed by tropical fruit notes.  The passion fruit is somewhat tart, reminding me of the shriveled fruit I ate growing up in East Africa.  Green melon is present, but the citrus dominates with the acidity getting more prominent on the back end.  The finish is decent in length but this wine seems a bit one-dimensional.  That’s not a bad thing mind you- sometimes its good to just have a refreshing white that isn’t going to overtax the senses.  It will do well with some fresh seafood or even a crisp salad with grilled chicken.  My actual pairing tonight is with a spicy Cajun Shrimp and Andouille dish- I think it will work.  I would also pound it poolside in the hot summer sun btw.  88 points from me for this $11 wine makes it a 5 star effort.  Drink now.  Salut….

Arabella Reserve Pinotage 2020, Western Cape, South Africa

10 Tuesday Jan 2023

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Opaque, deep purple colored with slow moving legs (14% ABV).  The nose has aromas of dark plum, black cherry, purple licorice and a touch of smoke and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and bold tannins that cover my cheeks.  Flavors of black cherry, blackberry and black plum with coffee and smoke on the back end.  There is a touch of bitterness on the finish showing perhaps some greeness in the tannins?   Full bodied with a medium finish, this is going to pair well with my grilled Tri-tip and Boerewors sausage.  Not overly complex or rich, it is tasty and easygoing wine with short term cellaring capacity.  I would drink this 87 pointer till 2025 and for $13 it’s a 4 star effort to stock up on for barbecues and parties.  Salut….

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine 2016, Constantia, South Africa

01 Sunday Jan 2023

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Part of our New Year’s Eve lineup, this iconic sweet dessert wine from South Africa is a deep gold color.  The nose blows me away with intense aromas of honey, Soursop (aka Guanabana), mango, apricot, quince and orange marmalade.  The palate is sweet and silky with medium acidity and a full body.  Ripe flavors of apricot, quince, mango candied ginger and soursop are enveloped with honey and white flower notes.  Unctuous without being cloying, this is a delicious yet young wine that slips down so easily.  The finish is long and silky with richness and a hint of almond to go along with the apricots and marmalade.  A stunning wine that runs $63 per 500ml bottle.   It gets north of 97 points from the pro’s.  I would have to agree.  Drinking window…. I love it now but will savor the other bottles I have over a period of time, till 2045 if you are patient.  5 stars for this Muscat of Frontignan varietal.  Stunning.  Salut….

Doolhof Dark Lady of the Labyrinth Pinotage 2020, Wellington, South Africa

12 Wednesday Oct 2022

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Medium ruby colored with fast moving legs (14% ABV).  The nose pops out at me with chocolate and coffee.  Dark plum, blackberry, açaí berry and a green herb note follow.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.   Pinotage is a bit of a chameleon grape- shifting flavors and aromas dependent on oak treatment.  This one has a lot of chocolate and some coffee that are straight out of the barrel.  Black fruit plays second fiddle- not that I’m complaining.  The green herb note hits on the back end.  The finish is a semi dry, tart affair that lasts medium length.  This is a unique wine that I am really going to enjoy with roasted duck and orange sauce.  It gets 89 points from me and for $14 it’s worthy of 5 stars- get a bottle or two.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

KWV ‘The Mentors’ Cabernet Franc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

05 Wednesday Oct 2022

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Deep, opaque purple colored with thick slow-moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose excites me- rich black cherry, pencil shavings, bell pepper, garigue and açaí berry compote.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and very smooth medium tannins.  It’s a medium to full-bodied wine that has flavors corresponding to the nose plus a bit of spice box and tobacco.  A medium length finish rounds this delicious single varietal wine up nicely.  I like it- 93 points and for $20 this is a steal of a 5-star effort to drink till 2025.  I’m pairing mine with a combo Cottage/Shepards Pie (one side with beef the other side with lamb).  Salut….

Barista Pinotage 2020, Paarl, South Africa

16 Friday Sep 2022

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As the name implies- this is a very coffee-driven wine.  Pinotage takes to heavily toasted oak barrels like a fish to water- this is where the winemaker can add the definitive coffee notes if they so choose.  This particular bottle is a pale-to-medium ruby with a blue tinge (lower acid).  On the nose I got pronounced aromas of coffee, some dark chocolate, tar, blackberry compote, forest floor and mulberry.  My notes include a ‘fish?’ notation, might have been a passing moment.  On the palate the wine has medium (-) acidity (remember the blue tinge?), medium (+) body and medium tannins.  I noted it was quite earthy but the structural components made for a great mouthfeel and it ended with a decent length finish.  For $13, this 89 point wine earns a respectable 4 stars from me and could pair nicely with Venison, BBQ, Pulled Pork or any other highly flavored dish.  See my notes on the 2016 Barista.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….