Recommendation: A VERY rich wine that’s a great value for the price.
Winery/Producer: Beau Constantia; Constantia Main Road; Constantia, South Africa.
Grape Variety: Blend: 35% Shiraz, 23% Malbec, 23% Petit Verdot and 19% Merlot.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Constantia; Western Cape, South Africa.
Vintage: 2012
Price: 215 (SAR) about $17.75 (US$) plus a $20 corking fee.
Purchased From: Beau Constantia Vineyard; Constantia Main Road; Constantia, South Africa.
Paired With: Caesar salad with garlic and parmesan cheese. Steak diane with cognac wild mushroom sauce, pont neuf potatoes, broccoli almondine and ratatouille stuffed tomato.
Tasting:
He said: Clear, but dark inky purple color with a dark purple rim. Intense cherry and plum aromas with hints of leather. Strong peppery dark fruit taste and a long dry finish with tastes of licorice, spice, tobacco, tar and slightly grippy tannins. Delicious blend. We had this at a tasting at the vineyard and liked it then, but it was even better with the steak. Supple texture; VERY flavorful without being jammy; and a noteworthy finish that really comes alive and makes the wine special. A VERY rich wine that’s a great value for the price. It’s not Opus One, but it’s a GREAT gutsy red blend at a fraction of the cost!!!
She said: Opaque with well spaced thin, on the move legs. Mild pleasant aroma of dark fruit with not hint of alcohol. The flavor was more robust and was complimented by the smooth and dry effect on the palate. the finish was long and flavorful with plenty of pleasing tannins. The wine outshone the steak although the sauce helped to even the balance. The wine is big and bold and needs a dinner to match. Full of flavor, this is a typical “New World” wine and I loved it. I would have it again with a taster beef or a great tasty cheese…Yummy! I love the idea of this wine for lunch with crusty bread and a strong cheese.
Comments: We purchased this wine directly from the Beau Constantia Vineyard (see the post on our wine tasting at Beau Constantia) and consumed it in the Britannia Restaurant on board the Cunard Queen Mary 2.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bar code: 6 009803 036098
Imported by: NA