Beeslaar Pinotage 2012, a fabulous debut

south africa

Beeslaar Pinotage 2012, a fabulous debut

abrie beeslaar
Abrie Beeslar (above) is the winemaker at Kanonkop, and he’s doing a bit of homebrew. This, his debut vintage, is one of the most profound interpretations of the often tricky Pinotage grape that you can imagine. It’s the Grand Cru Burgundy of Pinotages: structured, fresh, complex, ageworthy and elegant despite its obvious concentration. Website is here. I’ve gone big on the score: I’m not afraid to even for a debut vintage when the wine is this good.
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Beeslaar Pinotage 2012 Stellenbosch, South Africa
This spends 17 months in French oak, 50% of which is new. It’s taut, dense and quite structured with fresh, expressive ripe red cherry and berry fruits. Concentrated and structured, yet still fresh and elegant with the oak perfectly integrated into the dense fruit. There’s a savoury, mineral dimension under the fruit. Like a Grand Cru Burgundy, this isn’t really ready yet (it’s still tight-wound and a bit burly), but should age into graceful elegance over 20 years. 94/100

UK agent: Vincisive

5 Comments on Beeslaar Pinotage 2012, a fabulous debutTagged , ,
wine journalist and flavour obsessive

5 thoughts on “Beeslaar Pinotage 2012, a fabulous debut

  1. I haven’t had chance to drink this wine yet, but i love Tormentoso – Bush Vine Pinotage 2010! It’s the very first pinotage i adore.

  2. Glad you liked it Jamie. There are now some South African great producers producing world class wine from Pinotage with Abrie Beeslaar, Bruce Jack and Francois Naudé leading the pack.

  3. Good day

    I would love to order a few bottles of this wine – where can I buy it?

    Kind regards

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