Tasting Two Cabernet Sauvignons from South Africa

South Africa does generate a number of interesting value wines these days, both red and white.

Review: The Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon is so commonly known, this tasting can be considered in the "take one for the team" series. By that I mean I have provided substantive tasting notes to a wine that is not normally thought of as deserving such treatment. But I have enjoyed Excelsior in the past, and I will not let a good price be sufficient reason for ignoring a wine! In fact, some of my all-time-best-values are wines whose quality levels were simply significantly above their bargain prices.

The Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon hails from vineyards in the Robertson region, in the Western Cape section of South Africa.

Well, enough philosophy and geography... let's get on with the tasting. This bottle is vintage 2004, now almost five years old - a reasonable age for a straightforward cabernet. In the glass, this is deep, broody, bloody red, opaque in the middle, just a hint of medium red at the rim. Aroma is fairly shy and simple, red beets with a touch of oak.

On the palate, Excelsior cabernet is much more generous, opening up into a fleshy, full, slightly-sweet middle-mouth experience of deep fruit with smoky, charcoal, peppery edges. It finishes just a touch sweet with plums and a hint of cherry. Hides the 14.5 percent alcohol pretty well. Solid. Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale. I would find my way back to it, but would explore other wines in a given evening too. Excellent value at its price.

Not quite the three plus stars I rated it two years ago in one of my early Spirit of Wine reviews.

Find Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

Review: Some interesting dark red wines are coming from South Africa. Some can be pricey, coming from low-yield vines in well-known, well-regarded regions like Stellenbosch and Paarl. In contrast, the Man Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a range of vineyards in the Agtar and Paarl coastal areas of the Western Cape region of South Africa. It is a value-priced offering which has seen some time in American oak.

In the glass, this is medium dusty red, almost a bit brick at the edges. Aroma is moderately bold and fruity - it has that distinctive "inside of a new balloon" element. On the palate, an intriguing black smoke and oak commingles with full fruit in the middle of the mouth. There is also a spicy pepper that tickles the upper palate, as the tannins and acids spread. Moderately length finish, finishing with a tone of spice. Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for true distinctiveness; and a stunning value at very modest price.

Man Vintners makes a range of other South African varietals - this sample does make me curious about those. This example competes very favorably with Australian value wines (the ones that often have kangaroos or other furry creatures on the label).

Find Man Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.