Kanonkop Vertical Tasting 2009
Cellar Rats wine club had the privilege of a vertical tasting presented by the winemaker Abrie Beeselar. The range presented to the club were the vintages for Cabernet Sauvignon and Paul Sauer from 1996 through to 2005. They are a wonderful range of wines with the older vintages demonstrating that the new vintages will reward cellaring. It was brilliant having the insight of the winemaker who has been associated with Kanonkop for many years.

The wines were presented in flights of five and then the preferences were made for the preferred vintages in the flight. No individual wines were scored.

Our thanks to Kanonkop and Abrie for their generosity and for presenting a stupendous range of wines. There is little doubt that those who have had the privilege of tasting the Kanonkop wines will want to include it in their wine collection.

(Pics at the bottom of the page)

 
Cabernet Sauvignon

1996

Deepish brick. Cassis, stewed prune, develops floral. Soft dry tannin, sour fruit, quite full, medium finish.  

 1997*

Deepish black cherry, garnet rim, sediment. Mint, savoury, cedar. Ripe tannin, full, long, rich.

 1998*

Very deep black cherry, garnet rim, sediment. Berry fruit, cedar, mineral, mint. Firm tannin, full, long, somewhat austere.

 1999

Very deep black cherry, sediment. Mint, cassis, very ripe mulberry. Soft tannin, medium body and finish.

 2000

Deepish black cherry, garnet rim. Floral, berry fruit, cedar. Firm tannin, not much fruit, short tannic finish.

 2001

Deepish black cherry. Closed, opens up to cassis, cedar, violet. Firm tannin, integrated, full, long, rich.

 2002

Deepish black cherry, dense rim. Treacle, cedar, mineral, mulberry. Firm tannin, full, long, tannic.

 2003*

Deepish black cherry. Cassis, mineral, cedar, savoury. Ripe tannin, full, long fruit-driven finish.

 2004*

Deep black cherry, ruby rim. Blackcurrant, cedar, mineral, floral. Ripe tannin, full, long, somewhat austere finish.

 2005

Inky black plum. Savoury, cassis, floral, cedar, mineral. Firm, ripe tannin, full, long finish.

 

 Paul Sauer

1996

Medium garnet, brick rim, sediment. Stewed fruit, mineral, cedar, treacle, floral. Dry, ripe tannin, medium body, long fruit-driven finish.

 1997*

Inky black cherry, dense rim, sediment. Mineral, cassis, spicy, cedar, fynbos. Full, rich, long spicy finish.

 1998*

Inky black cherry, sediment. Cassis, ripe fruit, mineral, floral. Ripe tannin, full, long, quite austere.

 1999

Deep black cherry, wide rim, sediment. Floral, mulberry, mineral, chocolate. Ripe tannin, medium body and finish, fruit-driven.

 2000

Very deep black cherry. Closed, mineral, cassis, coffee. Ripe tannin, mineral, spice.

 2001

Deepish black cherry, sediment. Cedar, mineral, blackberry. Ripe tannin, medium to full, long.

 2002

Deepish black cherry, garnet rim, sediment. Plum, spice, cedar, mulberry, dried apricot. Ripe tannin, full, long.

 2003*

Deepish black cherry. Coffee, cassis, mineral, cedar. Ripe tannin, full, long, rich.

 2004

Deepish black plum. Plum, cedar, mineral. Ripe tannin, fruit-driven, full, long.

 

2005

Deepish black cherry. Herbal, mineral, cedar, blackberry. Ripe tannin, full, long, tannic.

 
 
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