WCOW: South Africa Single Red Varietal Nationals

Country: South Africa

Manager: Hugh Carter

South Africa is growing in prominence as a wine region in the West. It has long been a prolific supplier of bargain wines to North America while its higher-end wines remained harder to track down. This trend seems to be diminishing with more quality product coming to our shores. Great to see as SA offers unique wines like Pinotage and does admirably with classic European varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine #1: K.W.V. Cathedral Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Paarl
Cost: $19.99
Notes: Smooth with good fruit concentration and a beautifully complex nose.
Score: 88
Full Review: Follow Link

Wine #2: Beyerskloof 2007 Pinotage
Region: Stellenbosch
Cost: $15.99
Notes: The nose exhibits band-aid (in a good way) and coffee aromas which continue onto the palate with notes of strawberry. Light and flavourful.
Score: 87
Full Review: Follow Link

Conclusion: The Cathedral Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon takes this round due to its excellent complexity and silkiness in the glass.