Val Jencks

9.0

Tart, smooth. On the sweeter side. — a year ago

with Kimberly

Skip Smyser

8.9

Egyptian wine is better than expected. Good structure and soft tannins. Enjoying with various hummus dishes and olives and a nice cigar. — 3 years ago

Artur Ludwiczak

8.9

Vacation in Egypt — 8 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

A very passable white Bordeaux blend from the Nile delta - a bit on the clean/technical side but surprisingly highly enjoyable. The best I’ve tried in Egypt so far. — a year ago

Skip Smyser

9.1

Out of Egypt and back to Rome. The food and drink greatly improved upon landing. The wine is a full bodied Sangiovese with luxurious layers of red fruit, soft tannins and a lingering aftertaste. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

We have been working on our South Africa and Egypt trip for months. Diligently doing research and talking about it daily.

One of our stops will be a week on the Western Cape or as many define it, Stellenbosch. It has always been on my wine region bucket list for its wines and beauty. One of my goals was to find some excellent producers of Pinotage.

This Beeslaar is the private label of the Winemaker at Kanonkop, Abrie Beeslaar. Abrie makes a black label Kanonkop that sells retail at $200. That’s right, $200! It must be deliriously good if they can get $200 for it.

I found this 2016 Beeslaar at K&L for just under $37. It’s the 1st Pinotage that has my eyes wide open as to what can’t be done with this difficult varietal in the right hands. If his private label is this good, I hope to visit Kanonkop and taste their black label.

The nose reveals; dark chocolate raisins, dark eastern spices, plum and black cherry, blueberries, baked strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black raisin currants, smokiness and grilled meats, black pepper and a touch of white, some green vegetal notes, cinnamon, dark chocolate mocha bar, dark fruit steeped tea, gravely schist, touch of coffee grounds, dark fruit roll-ups, leather, tobacco with ash with fresh, dark red & blue florals.

The body is full, thick and rich. There is a dark, tarry, dusty tannin structure. This will benefit from 3-5 years plus in bottle but, it is crazy good. Sound, firm; structure, big tension, long length and very good balance. Dark chocolate raisins, smokiness and grilled meats, dark eastern spices that brings pronounced heat to the palate, black plum, plum and black cherry, blueberries, baked strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, raspberries, black raisin currants, dark berry bubblegum, black pepper and a touch of white, tree bark with a touch of sap, some green vegetal notes, cinnamon, dark chocolate mocha bar, dark fruit steeped tea, gravely schist, dry stones, touch of coffee grounds, dark fruit roll-ups, new un-smoothed leather, tobacco with ash with fresh, dark red & blue florals. The acidity is round and splendid. The elegant, rich finish runs ripe fruits to dry tannins with dusty earth and shows an even tug of war with its fruits and earthiness.

It drinks like a combination of; Grand Cru Gamay, Shiraz and Northern Rhône.

I will be getting more of this and forgetting about it for 5 more years. Can’t wait for that moment and noting the changes.

This wine raises my excitement level for our trip with each sip.

Pinotage is a grape variety made from a cross of Pinot Noir & Cinsaut that was created in South Africa in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University...making it one of the youngest grape varietals.

Photos of; a shot of just how beautiful Cape vineyards can be, Winemaker-Abrie Beeslaar, Pinotage fruit near harvest and field-hands harvesting their very tall vines. Beeslaar has no Cellar Door currently. — 6 years ago

Victor Mauad

8.9

VINHO EGÍPICIO — 2 years ago

Peter Isacksen

8.9

For Egypt a very nice smooth red. Hard to find and way overpriced. But hey… it’s egypt! — 3 years ago

Marianne DiGiovanni

9.0

Sitting in airport on way to Egypt
Orange and honey with crisp green apple — 5 years ago

David Walser

9.2

Drinking the 11 on a cruise off the coast of Egypt. Tasting better with age over previous bottles. Expecting additional improvement with the next bottle — 8 years ago