2012 Kanonkop Paul Sauer

Wine: 2012 Kanonkop Paul Sauer
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 24 months in 100% new French oak with a medium toast.
Varietal: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Color: Crimson red.

Nose/Smell: Smokey, a little dirty and chalk with medium intensity.

Palate/Taste: Lots of red cherries a little tight. High tannins (7.5/10) making it super furry and full body. Very powerful and long, lingering finish.

Opinion: One of the powerhouse Bordeaux blends out of South Africa. Absolutely delicious. Easily worth an American or French bottle at two to three times the price point...possibly even four times the price. Amazing QPR! Wish we had space to pick some up.

Dates: Now till 2037.
Rating: 93+

Price: $$ - R430.00 or $28.67 as of 12/19/2015

2011 Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine: 2011 Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 24 months in 50% new French oak and 50% second fill French oak.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Color: Garnet red.

Nose/Smell: Tea leaves, slight cassis and a lot of smoke.

Palate/Taste: Heavy tannins (7.5/10) and a full body. Lots of red cherries and slightly tangy. Sandpaper mouthfeel. Dry finish. Long and lingering finish. Tannins are heavy throughout.

Opinion: Built in the French style, nice and dry. Not fruit forward or silky at all. Can easily age for 20 years. This wine is fermented in open top fermentors. Kanonkop continues to surprise with these powerful wines. A must stop location in Stellenbosch.

Dates: Now till 2035.
Rating: 92

Price: $ - R300.00 or $20.00 as of 12/19/2015

2006 Kanonkop Pinotage

Wine: 2006 Kanonkop Pinotage
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 16 months in 80% new French oak, primarily Vicard barrels, and 20% second fill French oak.
Varietal: 100% Pinotage

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Color: Garnet red with some bricking around the edges.

Nose/Smell: Very savory, meaty notes and mesquite smoke.

Palate/Taste: Moderate tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Very well integrated and savory. Solid acidity and all fits very well together. Long and lingering finish.

Opinion: A lot more approachable than the 2013. Of course a lot softer tannins and more integrated. Can easily last up to another 10 years but would be perfect before 2020.

Dates: Now till 2026.
Rating: 93

Price: $ - R370.00 or $24.67 as of 12/19/2015

2013 Kanonkop Pinotage

Wine: 2013 Kanonkop Pinotage
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 16 months in 75% new French oak and 25% second fill French oak.
Varietal: 100% Pinotage

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Color: Ruby red with a purple rim.

Nose/Smell: Lovely nose! Savory with meaty notes. Vanilla from the new oak and lots of dark fruits. And lots of chalk!

Palate/Taste: Heavy tannins (8/10) with a full body. Very furry and makes you pucker. Actually quite refreshing. Very long and lingering full powerful finish.

Opinion: We only picked up the 2006 at the estate and thank goodness they sell the 2013 here at home! Very powerful and will easily age and will only benefit from aging. Absolutely delicious!

Dates: Now till 2035.
Rating: 92+

Price: $ - R280.00 or $18.67 as of 12/19/2015
Update: In the USA it goes fro around $36.00 - $$

2014 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage

Wine: 2014 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 14 months in second and third fill French Nevers oak.
Varietal: 100% Pinotage

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Color: Crimson red.

Nose/Smell: Lots of dark fruits, such as plums and mulberries.

Palate/Taste: Very interesting, on the palate there are red fruits not dark fruits. Crisp and refreshing. Moderate tannins (6/10) and moderate body. Clean and moderate finish.

Opinion: Same ageability as the cape blend but slightly better. Definitely an amazing QPR wine!

Dates: Now till 2020.
Rating: 88

Price: $ - R90.00 or $6.00 as of 12/19/2015

2013 Kanonkop Kadette Cape Blend

Wine: 2013 Kanonkop Kadette Cape Blend
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 12 - 14 months in second and third fill French Nevers oak.
Varietal: 54% Pinotage, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc.

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Color: Garnet red.

Nose/Smell: A little dirty initially with notes of hay. Undertones of light red fruits.
Palate/Taste: Lots of red cherries. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) and a light to moderate body. Lighter finish but the tannins stay strong throughout.
Opinion: This is one of the entry level wines from Kanonkop. Could possible benefit from aging, max 5 years.
Dates: Now till 2020.
Rating: 87

Price: $ - R80.00 or $5.33 as of 12/19/2015

2015 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rose

Wine: 2015 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rose
Estate: Kanonkop Wine Estate

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Elevage: 100% Stainless Steel.
Varietal: 100% Pinotage

Decant: Unknown.

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on 12/19/2015.

Tasting Note:

Slightly orange pink. Nose was clean, fresh and contained some light spices. Additionally this has a ton of lighter tropical fruits such as melons and guavas. Slightly metallic attack. Crisp with low acidity (4/10) which could easily be masked by the temperature this wine is served at (46°F). Has a little bite and a little spiciness. Light body but is very well balanced. Nothing overpowering that gives us a migraine. Dry and clean finish. This would be a great summer picnic wine. The color comes from 2 hrs on the skins.
Dates: Now till 2017.
Rating: 85

Price: $ - R50.00 or $3.33 as of 12/19/2015.

2013 De Toren Merlot Z Decade

Wine: 2013 De Toren Merlot Z Decade
Estate: De Toren Private Cellar

Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winemaker: Charles Williams
Elevage: Unknown.
Varietal: 100% Merlot

Decant: Forty-Five minutes.

Location: Devon Valley Hotel in Stellenbosch on 12/18/2015.

Tasting Note:

Very deep ruby red with a purplish core. Lots of red berries, like raspberries and a little heat on the nose. Again with the heat on this wine, this time in the palate. This needs to age for at least 2 years before trying but more like 5 years. Only noticeable taste is of red cherries. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) maybe up to 6 with a full body. The tannins could be a lot higher but are being masked by the heat. Finish has some lighter red fruits but is harsh and coarse. This could have the potential to be a great wine but it needs time to integrate. Possible 88+. This was bottle number 261 of 1760.

Dates: 2017 - 2025
Rating: 88+

Price: $$ - R400.00 or $26.52 as of 12/18/2015.

2013 Finca Villacreces Ribera del Duero Pruno

Wine: 2013 Finca Villacreces Ribera del Duero Pruno
Estate: Finca Vellacreces

Region: Ribera del Duero, Castile and Leon, Spain

Winemaker: Lluis Laso
Elevage: 12 months in third fill French Oak (Darnajou and Taransaud)
Varietal: 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Decant: PnP

Location: Home on 12/30/2015.

Tasting Note:
Deep crimson red. Lots of interesting nuances on the nose. Starting with a little expresso, some dark chocolate, graphite and finishing off with some plums. After breathing for a couple hours some meaty notes appeared. Started off a little fruity with plums and then had some dark chocolate. After opening up and breathing it became more savory. Moderate tannins (6/10) and moderate body. Most of activity in this wine occurs in the mid palate where it continues to develop. Dry (6/10) and moderate finish. This wine is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. We are trying to explore more wine regions. This is a well structured tempranillo that you can taste how the Cabernet Sauvignon adds to the structure of this wine, beefing it up a little bit. Delicious and need to grab a couple for some aging.
Dates: Now till 2019
Rating: 90

Price: $ - $18.99

2009 Olabisi Cabernet Sauvignon Gratitude Vineyard

Wine: 2009 Olabisi Cabernet Sauvignon Gratitude Vineyard
Estate: Olabisi Wines

Vineyard: Gratitude Vineyard
Location: Howell Mountain AVA, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker: Ted Osbourne
Elevage: 19 months in 75% new French Oak
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Decant: One hour.

Location: Napa Valley Wine Train on 10/03/2015.

Tasting Note:
Color: Deep and rich dark ruby red with purplish hues and not cloudy.
Nose/Smell: Nose was full of dark fruits, more precisely cassis, blackberries and blueberries. 
Palate/Taste: Palate was voluptuous and completely silky tannins, it just rolled down your tongue. Initial attack through to the end was completely full of cassis. Thick and plush, tannins are strong accompanied with a full body. Amazing structure and very well integrated.
Opinion: Never heard of this wine before, we just wanted to try a solid cabernet. If I had the space we would of easily taken another six home. Our wine travel case (literally a steel box, you'll see pictures next week) was already completely full, not including the additional 11 bottles we has to split in our checked luggage. That was a nerve racking flight home...whew. This is an amazing wine with aging potential for sure.
Dates: Now till 2030
Rating: 94

Price: $$$ - $125.00.

2007 Porter Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine: 2007 Porter Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate: Porter Family Vineyards

Vineyard: Porter Family Vineyard
Location: Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker: Ken Bernards
Elevage: 24 months in 100% new French Oak.
Varietal: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot

Decant: One and a half hour in the glass from a coravin.

Location: At home on 11/22/2015.

Tasting Note:
Color: Dark, opaque, deep ruby red and crimson. Clear. Heavy intensity in the color, compact rim,  and no sediment.
Nose/Smell: Still a little tight,  black cherry,  anise and high intensity, we could smell the cherries a few inches above the glass. 
Palate/Taste: Seems to have moderate to heavy toasting of the barrel, it is a little meaty on the palate and smokey. Moderate to full body with moderate plus tannins (7/10). A little dirty and sharp before the finish. Long lingering finish that needs some time to integrate.
Opinion: First time trying Porter Family Vineyards, but have recently tried a few Cabernet Sauvignons out of Coombsville. There was something very interesting in the wine that we could not identify at first, then noted it as Syrah. We would love to try some of their younger vintages to see how they compare but this can easily be cellared for another five to ten years for future development. Time will only help integrate this more fully.
Dates: Now till 2025
Rating: 95

Price: $$$ - On release was around $95.00 now $125.00 from the estate.

2000 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou

Wine: 2000 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
Estate: Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou

Growth: Second Growth
Location: St. Julien, Left Bank Bordeaux, France

Winemaker: Bruno Borie
Elevage: 18 months in 80% new French Oak.
Varietal: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot

Decant: Unknown.

Location: S&E Wine Club - 95+ Point Wines on 09/18/2015.

Tasting Note:
Color: Brick red, hints of brown probably due to age.
Nose/Smell: Great nose, very earthy and lots of barnyard. 
Palate/Taste: Tannins are still strong and powerful, full bodied. Dry finish like classic French Bordeaux.
Opinion: Tasted blind. Absolutely delicious, great structure, well integrated and can definitely keep going. Did not taste 15 years old! 
Dates: Now till 2030
Rating: 96

Price: $$$$ - Average around $220.00

2012 Two Shepherds Syrah Saralee's Vineyard

Wine: 2012 Two Shepherds Syrah Saralee's Vineyard
Estate: Two Shepherds

Vineyards: Saralee's Vineyard

Location: Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California

Winemaker: William Allen
Elevage: 10 months in neutral French Oak.
Varietal: 100% Syrah

Decant: Thirty minutes in the glass, this was a coravin.

Location: At home on 12/05/2015.

Tasting Note:
Color: Dark and opaque crimson red.
Nose/Smell: Love the nose on this.  It continued to change,  started with cinnamon and baking spices.  Then went to blueberries,  violets and forest foliage. Finished of the nose with charred meat after about an hour in the glass.
Palate/Taste: Palate was smooth with notes of herbs and olives. Low tannins (4.5/10) with a light body.  Slight acidic and crisp finish that lingers for a while.
Opinion: Can tell it has had limited oak exposure.  Very relaxing and easy to drink. Excited to crack this open next weekend. We can easily see this going up a couple points with a proper decant, just to let that nose fully open up! Could last a few years, not that you would want to wait that long!
Dates: Now till 2017
Rating: 90+

Price: $$ - $38.00

2013 Ledge Vineyards Syrah James Berry Vineyard

Wine: 2013 Ledge Vineyards Syrah James Berry Vineyard
Estate: Ledge Vineyards

Vineyards: James Berry Vineyard

Location: Willow Creek AVA, Paso Robles, California

Winemaker: Mark Adams
Varietal: 100% Syrah

Decant: Had been open for forty-five minutes prior to us arriving.

Location: The Vineyard in McLean - Ledge Vineyards Tasting on 11/18/2015.

Tasting Note:
Color: Deep and opaque ruby red with purplish hues.
Nose/Smell: A little bit of heat and petroleum in the nose to start. As it aired a little bit it got some floral notes added in the mix.
Palate/Taste: Lots of texture, definitely furry but almost like sandpaper with pepper and dark fruits. High tannins (7.5/10) and moderate body. Needs a number of years to integrate. Long finish that is a little rough.
Opinion: Some of the same fruit used in the the Saxum James Berry Vineyard, powerful stuff! I honestly would not touch this wine for another two years. Very powerful and it needs time. Easily cellar for ten years. Lots of potential with this wine.
Dates: 2017 till 2025
Rating: 91+

Price: $$ - $64.99

2013 Ledge Vineyards Drive

Wine: 2013 Ledge Vineyards Drive
Estate: Ledge Vineyards

Vineyards: James Berry Vineyard and Messina Vineyard

Location: Willow Creek AVA, Paso Robles, California

Winemaker: Mark Adams
Varietal: 45% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, and 25% Grenache

Decant: Had been open for forty-five minutes prior to us arriving.

Location: The Vineyard in McLean - Ledge Vineyards Tasting on 11/18/2015.

Tasting Note:
Color: Light crimson.
Nose/Smell: Starts off with some dark berries, such as blackberries. and a slight note of violets. 
Palate/Taste: A lot more dark fruits than the previous wines. Lots of blackberries and blueberries. More together than the Adams Ranch or James Berry. Moderate tannins (6/10) and moderate body with a moderate lingering finish.
Opinion: Second favorite of the wines today. This is mainly based off approachability. Time would still help this wine to fully integrate and could cellar for up to ten years.
Dates: Now till 2025
Rating: 92

Price: $$ - $43.99