Fairview - The Beacon Shiraz 2005

One of last winemakers we visited in South Africa was Fairview and I must say they have a fantastic selection of wines. We visited the more fancy tasting room for the upper range of the wines and ended up being deeply impressed.

So the other day (nice summer evening in Paris) we tried one of their bottles, namely a single vineyard wine called the Beacon Shiraz 2005.

The grapes comes from bushvines on grey shale stone and are pruned to carry a small crop to enhance concentration. Fermentation took place in open 500 litre french oak barrels with manual punch downs (just like Lynx). It spent 16 months in french oak (40% new) before bottling.

So to the wine itself : Beautiful dark red colour with a wonderful aroma of pepper, roastbeef and dark berries. It just makes you wonder how good its gonna taste! and it goes on as the taste is wonderful complex , silky and perfectly balanced with some soft tannins. Yummy yummy! ca 18 points

It's just wonderful stuff, sort of a mixture between a Crozes Hermitage and a Hermitage. Again the same comment as for the Lynx Shiraz; this is NOT Shiraz, this is Syrah!

Wonderful Syrah matching the quality from the Rhone valley and beating them on price!

Less than 12€ a bottle (20€ incl transport + tax)! P++

but be careful; nearly 15% alcohol which is well hidden!

Fairview - Fairview Wines, Goats do Roam Wines, Agostinelli Wines, Fairview Cheese

Bordeaux- Le prelat du Ch. Pape Clement 2004

This is one of two second wines of the famous and expensive Ch. Pape Clement in Graves. Although young, 2004, this wine drinks really well already if you put it on carafe a couple of hours before consumption. Dark red colour, with a very attractive smell of blueberries and dark berries, its a full bodied wine with firm but nice tannins that goes best with some food. 2004 although not the best of vintages, keep surprising me with good drinkable wines at affordable prices, because from 2005 and onwards there is a big step up in prices.... Grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon 60% and Merlot 40% Price around 20€ P+

Wine # 2 Blindtasting Ganddal

Deep dark purple colour. Dark berries, cherries and mint chocolate. Full bodied with soft tannins. Reminds me of an Amarone.. A very nice wine indeed. Panel is way out as it is from the Rhone valley. Gigondas 2009 by Guigal Score 17.60 Ca 20€ or 220 NOK

Ogier Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

This is a quite reasonable Chateauneuf du Pape (ca 200 NOK or 15€). The colour is medium ruby color which was a bit surprising. Nose of ripe black cherries and liquerice with a medium + body and finish with firm tannins. The wine can be drunk now but has definitely the potential for ageing (5-10 years). Chateauneuf du Pape 2010, Ogier Bring out the steak!

Life is too short to drink bad wine

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