We’re thrilled to introduce a true icon of South African winemaking to the Museum Wines portfolio: Beeslaar Wines, the personal label of legendary winemaker Abrie Beeslaar, who spent 23 vintages at the helm of Kanonkop and was named IWSC International Winemaker of the Year no less than four times.
Crafted with his wife Jeanne, Beeslaar Wines showcases the very essence of South African terroir and hospitality. From the beautifully perfumed, red-fruited Stellenbosch Pinotage, grown just 3km from Kanonkop on shale soils, to the fresh, structured Chardonnay, and now the highly anticipated debut of Sacrament, a Bordeaux-style blend (which, as the creator of Kanonkop’s Paul Sauer, was only a matter of time), these wines are as soulful and satisfying as they are accomplished.
But this is more than just great winemaking. It’s an invitation to experience a piece of South African culture. Nothing captures the SA spirit better than a braai (our version of a barbecue), where the smell of woodsmoke and a sizzling piece of steak, paired with a characterful red, are not just traditions, they’re a way of life.
If you’re looking for the perfect partner to a flame-licked ribeye in the midst of a British heatwave, look no further. Beeslaar’s Pinotage or Sacrament practically demand it. This is comfort and connection in a glass, and the closest thing to a South African sunset without boarding a plane.
Available now in limited quantities. Light the fire so long.
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Just Landed
Beeslaar Wines…
96 Points – Greg Sherwood MW | 96 Points – Tim Atkin MW
“Always one of the most impressive premium Pinotages produced in South Africa since its maiden release in 2012, the Beeslaar Pinotage has a style all of its own, boasting a soft, silky, fleshy concentration and lifted perfumed aromatics that are simply to die for. The 2022 release was fermented in open top concrete vessels with punch downs every two hours before being matured for 20 months in 225-litre French oak barriques of which 50% were new and 50% were second passage. The aromatics are rich, intricate, and complex with classical Pinotage notes of sweet violets, bramble berries, black plums, black cherries and notions of savoury cured meats and smoky chargrilled steaks dusted with Chinese five spice and bruleed mocha choc nuances. Abrie always has an expert knack of coaxing out the most seductively silky plush textured mouthfeel from his reds and this 2022 is beautifully soft and supple, sweetly fruited, and impressively concentrated with bramble berry fruits, crème de cassis, black cherry confit topped with picante black chocolate and exotic vanilla oak spice notes. True to the Beeslaar style, the concentration is focused and intense, the acidity refreshingly vibrant and the tannins silky, sweet and luscious. Pinotage of this quality needs a little time to show at its best and this 2022 is just starting to show glimpses of its true greatness. Drink on release and over the next 10 to 15+ years.”- Greg Sherwood MW.
“Beeslaar comes from a comparatively large, four-hectare parcel on shale soils and makes an interesting contrast with Kanonkop’s Black Label Pinotage. Pure, floral, ethereal and hauntingly perfumed, it has stylish, scented 50% new wood, fine-grained tannins, plum, strawberry and goji berry flavours and a lingering finish. 2025-35.” – Tim Atkin MW.
95 Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“This new Bordeaux blend from Abrie Beeslaar has certainly got a lot of collectors and connoisseurs excited after Abrie’s incredible run of success with the Paul Sauer Bordeaux Blend at Kanonkop Estate, where he concluded his tenure in August 2024. Made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Merlot using 30% whole-berry fermentation, the wine was matured for 19 months in 100% new French oak barriques. Initially, on opening, the aromatics are deep, dark, and broody with a definite leaning towards black berry and black plum fruits. Given a little more air, this rich dense Bordeaux blend eventually starts to open its broad shoulders to reveal a more delicately perfumed florality of violets and white blossoms, lead pencils, sappy cedar spice, autumnal leaves, and notes of freshly tilled earth. The palate is medium to full bodied and packs in a fair amount of fleshy black and red berry fruits that are ably supported by sweet well-extracted creamy tannins, a bright tangy acidity and complex maritime hints of nori seaweed, iodine and an overt salinity before the long, mineral laden, graphite-tinged finish. The 14.5% alcohol adds breadth and glycerol depth with the spicy Cabernet Franc portion in the wine becoming more pronounced the longer the wine sits in the glass. Perhaps not quite the fine-boned textural refinement you can see on similar producers’ styles in 2017 and 2021, but this is undoubtedly another fabulous premium addition to the Cape’s wonderfully varied Bordeaux blend offerings. Drink from 2026 and over the next 15+ years. (Total production of 5 barrels.)”- Greg Sherwood MW.
94+ Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“The 2023 Chardonnay from Abrie Beeslaar is the most distinguished expression he has produced to date and offers an enthralling opulence and intensity commensurate with the high-quality reputation of the 2023 vintage. The grapes, 65% from Barrydale and 35% from Banghoek, Stellenbosch, were sourced from vineyards situated on a mixture of shale and high-altitude granitic soils, which impart the wine with an exceptional sense of luxury and textural sophistication. After a period of 48 hours of settling, the juice underwent fermentation in a combination ceramic vessels and 225-litre oak barriques, 20% new, before being barrel aged on its fine lees for 12 months to impart additional complexity, texture, and mouthfeel. On the nose, the aromatics reveal an alluring melange of honeysuckle, white blossom, yellow stone fruits, pithy citrus, lemon peel, crushed granite and delicately leesy, biscuity dried herb nuances. On the palate, there is a beautiful sense of power and poise with mouthwatering layers of sweet pineapple chunks, Braeburn apples, vanilla pod, and yellow grapefruit with an intricate line of crystalline acidity before a final rasping wet stone phenolic mineral grip on the finish. A thoroughly accomplished wine that promises to drink well for at least another 6 to 8+ years.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
