Stark-Conde, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch

Deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. Definitely showing some age on the nose with cherry tomatoes, leather, and tobacco. Medium tannins (5/10) with a medium to medium minus body. A bit sweet on the palate with cherry, cigar box, gravel and plums. Medium finish and well integrated. Drink now.

2010 vintage

As a pnp this popped out of the glass. Fruitier than I ever remember with classic strong acidic backbone that you get in many SA Cabernets. Rich chalk on the nose. N8 B6 F7 T6 F8

2009 vintage

Light chalk and green pepper on the nose. Solid tannins and body with rounded spiciness in the finish. Fruitiness on the body with solid positive acidity in the finish. N6 F7 T7 B7 F7

2009 vintage

Tenth red wine at our annual DMV South African wine tasting. Medium to deep ruby red. Chalky attack on the nose with a touch of greenery not vegetal, sweet spices and currants. Medium plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. Dark and rich sweet spices and cherries on the attack. Some earthiness and rocks as well on the palate. Long finish. Drink till 2022.

2009 vintage

Deep and dark ruby core with garnet edges. Layered nose with dirty, barnyard, earthy, mushrooms, forest floor, chalk and some damp leaves. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium to medium plus body. Nice mouthfeel and texture with notes of bell peppers, red cherries and a little marmite. Long finish. Still kicking, drink till 2018.

2009 vintage

Tasted on day two. Deep ruby red with bell peppers and red fruits on the nose. Lots of acidity with medium tannins (5/10). Medium bodied with dark fruits and a bit savory. Medium plus finish. Drink till 2019.

2009 vintage

medium bodied with acidity

2009 vintage

Mix of garnet and ruby red. Love the classic South African nose with chalk, tomato, some light greenery, dark cocoa and very tight black berries. Great structure and moderate plus body. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) with a long finish. Savory on the palate with some dark cocoa and berries. Layered and even some leather in it. Stunning QPR and great Cabernet from SA! Drink till 2020.

2009 vintage

this is showing fantastic. lots of aromatics. just barely strays into green notes. the space where green and mineral/iron collide. lots of blackberry fruit. there is just a touch of roast hanging around, but really doesn't stray too far into territory of often derided SA Cabs. The peat/smoke/bandAID character is lingering, but in the composition, it's a nuance and not in your face.

2013 vintage

Dead ringer for Bordeaux in our blind tasting. 2 people said of this wine if it is not Bordeaux, I'm going to kill myself. Very juicy with good pepper. Excellent

2010 vintage

Tuesday Night Double Blind <$30 (Bin 75) : Black core with bright purple rim; a hint of purple fruit, lots of green pepper, clay, whiskey barrel, screams South Africa on the nose; palate is much fresher than nose suggests, strong fruit with green notes and iodine well integrated into the wine's character; a bit strong for me but a good example.

2010 vintage

I've enjoyed several bottles of this wine over the past year. Although this is 85% cabernet, the lesser amounts of merlot, petit verdot, and cab franc are evident on the palate. The result is more of a Bordeaux blend experience than only cabernet sauvignon. I enjoy the complexity the different varieties give this wine. I find that the slightly herbal and tobacco flavors add to the wine rather than detracts from it. Some bottles were slightly more jammy than I …

2009 vintage

Attractive aromas of dark fruits, spice and bell pepper on the nose. Rich, polished, and very plush in texture. There's plenty of juicy plum and boysenberry fruit character here, with excellent depth and focus. A barely detectable vegetal note creeps in on the finish, but is only a minor detraction. Not especially complex, but this is long, smooth and loaded with delicious fruit. 50+5+12+16+7=90

2009 vintage

Balanced, but terroir and climate shine through with pepper and herb notes over fruit. More like a syrah in both color and spice.

2010 vintage

Touch of the SA funk but not in a bad way, adds more complexity than anything else. Yet, I could see why it would turn some people off.

2010 vintage

I drank this over 3 nights. Each night it had a lovely texture and good concentration, but the first two nights it had a pretty intense green streak that was off-putting. The third night, the green streak disappeared. So it's hard to rate this one, a B on the first two nights and maybe a B+ on the last night. Some cellar time is needed?

2009 vintage

Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet : Clean chalk nose and dark ruby red color. Strong tannins 7/10 with a full body and long finish.

2009 vintage

Medium bouquet. Surprisingly smooth. Rolls on the tongue. Little sour. Long finish

2009 vintage

Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet (at Home) : Chalk, clean terroir nose that is classic South African. Dark red and a hint of berry smoothness. Smooth and light velvet on the palate.

2009 vintage

Clean chalky nose and initial flavor. Moderately strong tannins and fruit forward so very drinkable with cheese and biscuits. I did not decant and this was just beautifully right - it was a little on the chilled side as it came straight out of the cellar. This was better than I remember from my last tasting and thus unexpected.

2009 vintage

Average, at best...

2008 vintage

classic clean chalk terroir - medium bodied tannins and not too much fruit

2009 vintage

Heavy handed Euro style, shows graphite, gunpowder, earth and bitter/green overtones. Overwhelming oak and alcohol, unbalanced.

2008 vintage

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Stark-Conde, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch

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