2014 Vintage
Timed Online Auction, 1 - 11 March 2024
2014 Vintage
About this Item
Often described as the South African equivalent of a Grand Cru or First Growth, Kanonkop Estate is situated on the Simonsberg mountain slopes on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Owned by the fourth generation Krige family, Abri Beeslaar is their long-term winemaker who has won International Winemaker of the year an incredible 3 times.
The Black Label was introduced as a limited-edition bottling with the 2006 vintage, cementing the team’s confidence in South Africa’s own red variety. Black Label is made from one of the oldest Pinotage vineyards in South Africa, one planted in 1953 on a site that has over the years proved to produce fruit of specific excellence and deemed special enough to be bottled under an own label.
Critics Ratings
'Glossy, deep garnet. Grilled beef, dried black fruit, balsamic and gently spiced – fully mature nose. Plenty of volume on the palate, with comparatively light, peppery tannins. Supple. Ready now.' - Tim Jackson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (May 2022)
'There's a lifted, vibrant impression to the nose of this impressive, well-crafted wine. It's a pleasant surprise, as it lends levity and definition to the notes of black cherry, crushed purple flowers, licorice root and earth. The mouthfeel is plush and mouthfilling, yet not oppressively so, with ample acidity and structured but velvety tannins. The rich, ripe and robust palate leads into a long finish. It promises a long life of beautiful evolution ahead, maturing to reveal greater nuance and elegance, so cellar through 2030.' - Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 93/100 (Apr 2018)
'The ‘grandfather’ of farm’s pinotage trio, from 61 year old senior citizen vineyard. 2014 biggest, richest & grandest of them; just soaks up 100% new French oak & grape’s famously reverberating tannins. Already approachable, also years in store.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5*
There are only 5,000 bottle of this stellar Pinotage, but it’s still well worth tracking down. Made from a block planted in 1953 and aged entirely in new oak, it’s as good as the variety gets: structured, sweet, concentrated and savoury, with densely textured blackberry fruit, a twist of ginger and the power to age. Drink: 2017-30' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 97/100
'The 2014 Black Label Pinotage has a well-defined bouquet with lovely cranberry and loganberry fruit, sage and a freshly tilled earth. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, a cooler and more masculine Black Label with a sense of reserve towards the finish, as if holding something back. There is plenty of freshness here, long in the mouth, but I would cellar this away for 4-5 years, because I am sure it will develop, rewarding secondary notes and flavors. Just 5,000 bottles produced.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 93/100
'"Icon” is a loaded word when it comes to wine, but the Black Label Pinotage from Kanonkop in Stellenbosch is on track to becoming just that. The current-release 2014 shows a slight reductive/rubbery note on the nose as well as cherries and plums, spice and a slight herbal note. The palate has both breadth and depth; sweet fruited on entry, fresh acidity and properly ripe fruit tannins making for a long, dry finish. Seems more accessible than the monumental 2013.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 92/100
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
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