Tasting Notes 7 found

This had a bit of TCA funkiness in the beginning, which I have also experienced with the Meerlust Rubicon. I decanted the rest of the bottle and, over time, this dissipated completely. Medium-light rosewood color. Nose starts deceptively cheery, with bright red fruits. As this was allowed to open up it became more nuanced, with ripe blackberries and dry, earthy aromas. The palate, similarly, has lots of earthy sous-bois flavors, underpinned by a subtle but well-defined terroir. I found this very good, indeed, and quite food-friendly. Unbeatable value at $15/bottle, this would make an excellent house red for everyday drinking. (851 views)

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Opaque rosewood color. Had a bit of TCA at first, but some decanting allowed this to dissipate. Meaty and juicy nose, packed with aromas of charcoal, sandalwood incense, volcanic rock, and the racy smell of ripe bing cherries. This is surprisingly mineral-driven through the lithe and focused palate, with green bell pepper, unripe blackberries, and ample tannic support. The most classically-styled of any Rubicon I have had, this will be worth 5-10 years of patience. Superb value, as always. (2363 views)

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Medium-light garnet color. Most of my prior experience with Pinotage has been with burlier, more extracted styles suitable for accompanying a braai. By comparison this was quite fleet, with a nearly Burgundian profile. Cheerful red berries swirled on the nose with lavender and violet floral aromas. There was also a subtle but distinct minerality, which was also present on the palate. This was energetic and young-tasting, with tart red fruit and moderate acidity, again underpinned by a more serious stony note. Delicious and very food-friendly, I'd be keen to see how this evolves over another 3-5 years. (1238 views)

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Dark crimson color. Rather different than the prior bottle (see my 11/15/13 note), this had a hotter, more oaky nose than I recall previously. There was also more in the way of dark berry and heady perfume aromas. On the palate this has a rich, spicy bouquet of red fruit. Tannins remain firm enough to provide several more years of pleasurable drinking. (3352 views)

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Medium-dark rosewood color. On the nose this is immediately expressive, with beef blood and freshly ground pepper aromas accented by a high-toned note of cocoa. The wine is still in its infancy, with a sturdy wall of tannins suppressing the palate somewhat. However, it has clear concentration and power, and will hopefully mature into the type of varied complexity indicated by the nose. Needs five years at a minimum, and may well last for a good ten years after that. (1295 views)

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Medium crimson color with faint brickish rim. Dense nose of potpourri, fried red bell pepper, oil, shoe polish, cigar box and smoke. The palate is surprisingly bright by comparison, with juicy flavors of plum and blackberry along with more tart notes of red apple. This finishes long, with spicy and woody tastes lingering for 10-15 seconds. The tannins are smooth and well integrated but retain good structure; I can easily see the fruit flavors on this broadening out over the next 5-8 years. For now, this tastes like young Bordeaux. At $25/bottle this is an exceptional value. (2095 views)

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Medium-light garnet color. In a moment of inspired free association, a fellow taster blurted out "dirty bird feathers," and I can summon no more apposite descriptor of the nose. Think pigeons, but pleasantly so. The palate is a little less evocative, but retains a nice mix of tart berry flavors with subtle woodsy accents, finishing with moderately firm tannins. I would happily consume this again for the next couple of years. (3242 views)

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