Beeslaar Wines is a small family-run business, specializing in the production of handcrafted, high-end Pinotage wines, originating from a single-vineyard site in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
The Beeslaar Difference
A proper vineyard site embedded in special terroir
The Beeslaar Difference
Precise winemaking with attention to the finest detail
The Beeslaar Difference
Patient maturation in carefully selected oak barrels made from trees up to 200 years old
Top 10 Pinotages in South Africa
Taste the best. Very limited stock available, get yours today.
Grape Varieties:
100% Pinotage
Vintage Conditions:
During the winter that preceded the harvest in 2022, there was an above- average amount of precipitation, and there were sufficient cold units to induce even budding. The heavy rainfall prompted the development of weeds, pests, and illnesses; nonetheless, these challenges were conquered by careful management of the vineyard.
Vinification:
Handpicked grapes were destemmed, sorted, and fermented in open top concrete fermenters at 28C. The skins were punched down by hand, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3 days. Malolactic fermentation and maturation took place for 20 months in 225L French oak barrels (50% new and 50% 2nd fill).
Tasting notes:
Vibrant crimson-red hue, with aromatic hints of cranberry, raspberry, crème de cassis, and macerated cherries, complemented by subtle undertones of oak spice, tobacco leaf, and Fynbos shrub. The palate is opulent, decadent, with a framework of succulent plum and black cherry flavours enhanced by French oak, fragrant spices, and a rustic herbal hint. The wine presents a variety of flavours, including rich chocolate, wild berries, and exotic spices, all complemented by a subtle and harmonious oak influence that lingers on the finish. A wine that possesses the ability to age, exhibits complexity, and exudes elegance.
| Alcohol | 14.5% |
|---|---|
| Residual sugar | 3.2g/L |
| Acidity | 5.8g/L |
| Ph Level | 3.74 |
| Region | Stellenbosch Single Vineyard |
| Producer | Beeslaar |
Meet the Winemaker: Abrie
I was raised in the town of Worcester, situated in a major wine-growing region of the Western Cape, some 120 km’s north-east of Cape Town. Initially I wanted to study medicine, but fate (and the student culture at the University of Stellenbosch) steered me in another direction and I obtained a BSc degree in Viticulture and Oenology in 1997.
My first job was an internship at Windmeul Cellar in northern Paarl, and this was followed by a position at another large co-operative cellar, Swartland Winery in Malmesbury, as assistant winemaker. It was here where I met South Africa’s “King of Pinotage”, Beyers Truter, who regularly visited Swartland to select wines for his own Beyerskloof operation. We quickly realised that our common love for red wine, and more specifically Pinotage, would forge a friendship that continues to this day.
In 2003 I took over the role as winemaker at the world-renowned Kanonkop Estate, also famous for its production of world-class Pinotage wines, which further cemented my belief that South Africa’s national grape is worthy of competing with the best the world has to offer.
In 2011, my dream of making a truly unique Pinotage from a site-specific vineyard, was realised when I was offered the opportunity to work with grapes from a unique parcel of land in the Simonsberg region outside Stellenbosch, and Beeslaar Wines was born. I guess one could argue that I didn’t pick Pinotage – instead, it picked me.
From the start it was a family affair, with my wife Jeanne (who also hails from a grape farm in the Swartland) in charge of the office administration and logistics. My two children, son Ben and daughter Emma, are often seen lending a helping hand when it comes to preparing orders!
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