The
Stellenbosch Wine Route
The
wines of Beyerskloof
PO Box 107, Koelenhof, 7605 South Africa
Tel: +27 21 865 2135 Fax: +27 21 865 2683
E-mail: wine@beyerskloof.co.za
Website: www.beyerskloof.com
My
final stop on the Bottelary wine route was Beyerskloof, a modern style
operation, part owned by Beyers Truter, the Pinotage king. Truter
founded this winery in 1988 in partnership with four wine lovers in
Johannesburg: now it’s owned by him and Simon Halliday of Raisin
Social (the UK agents).
It deviates from the traditional Cape Estate model in that
while Beyerskloof grows some of its own grapes for the premium wines,
they also source grapes from elsewhere from their mass market Pinotage.
This more commercial wine a good introduction to Pinotage selling at
the key £4.99/£5.99 price point and made in large quantities.
Beyerskloof
buys grapes mostly from Bottelary region farms, and has 8 or 9 primary
growers. All the grapes come from Stellenbosch.
Beyerskloof Pinotage 2002 Stellenbosch
Sourced from old bush vine vineyards. Up to 100 000 cases produced
annually. Quite a sweet herbal nose with a touch of caramel. Juicy
palate with some attractive meaty richness. Very good
Bouwland Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Stellenbosch
Savoury, juicy berry fruit with good acidity. Good/very good
Truter’s Reserve Pinotage 2000 Stellenbosch
Juicy ripe, rich fruit with a savoury, slightly meaty edge. Very
good
Beyerskloof Synergy 2001 Stellenbosch
This Cape Blend is a new addition to the Portfolio. It is roughly
a third each of Pinotage, Merlot and Cabernet aged in a mix of new and
old French oak. Very appealing meaty, spicy, savoury nose. The palate
is savoury with lots of spicy, herby character. Well defined.
Structured and with potential for the future.
Very good+
Beyerskloof 2000 Stellenbosch
This is the flagship estate wine, made from roughly 5 hectares of
Cabernet and Merlot vines. These are planted at high density (5000
vines/ha) on gravelly soils, on a five wire trellis system. It has a
very firm, spicy nose with a minty, herby edge. The palate is
appealing and firmly structured, with good concentration and spicy
tannins. A modern wine but one that shows promise for the future. Very
good/excellent
Other reports from the Stellenbosch wine route:
See
also:
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