99/100 Greg Sherwood MW March 2024 A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Paul Sauer is beautifully intense and utterly seductive, the aromatics pulling you in with their perfumed notes of incense, violets, black currant, saline oyster shell, black cherry, sweet cherry tobacco and graphite with subtle blueberry notes and a subtle kiss of sweet cedar and vanilla pod spice. The palate shows sprawling breadth and depth with a gentle picante spice together with a noticeably intense salinity and maritime, nori seaweed nuance before more bold flavours of black currant, mulberry, black cherry and blueberry coat the mouth. The fine silky tannins are deceptively taut and crisp with the fresh glassy acids adding to the wine’s obvious power, focus and superb intensity. So much wine in the glass, so much to assimilate! The 2021 Paul Sauer represents a true Cape Bordeaux blend masterclass once again from Abrie Beeslaar! Drink from 2025 to 2050 .97 pts Tim Atkin MW 2024 This is the last release that will be presented to the market by departing winemaker Abrie Beeslaar and he’s going out on a high. Partnering Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, with ageing in new French oak, it’s leafy, floral and refined, showing plenty of underlying structure, cassis and red berry fruit and sculpted tannins. Classy stuff. 2026-4095 pts James Suckling Top 100 South African Wines 2024 #17 This is a polished and full-bodied red blend, showing notes of vanilla bean, blackcurrant, black plum, dill and mocha. Refined, silky yet firm tannins frame the dark fruit. Long and classy. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 13% cabernet franc. Drink from 2025.94 pts Wine Advocate June 2025 A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot, the Kanonkop 2021 Simonsberg Stellenbosch Paul Sauer Estate Wine sees 24 months in 100% new oak. This is considered a very good vintage that produced concentrated fruit that surely needs more time to evolve in bottle. The wine has all of its elements fixed into place, but it needs to flesh out and soften. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc are fermented separately. and the blend is made after malolactic fermentation. A combination of oak is used, including 40% Seguin Moreau, for added richness. This elegant red blend exhibits an especially polished quality that I found across this portfolio. The bouquet starts with cassis and candied cherry, and the strong oak signature brings Christmas candle and spice. The alcohol content is measured at a moderate 13%. 2025-20404 ½ Stars 2025 John Platter’s South African Wine Guide Acclaimed Cape Bordeaux from average 31 year old vines hits all the right notes in 21 (94 pts), from signature perfume (cassis, florals, cedar, tealeaf, to depth & length of savoury flavour. 100% new oak buffs cassis, cherry & piquant plum, imbuing muscularity to a velvet tannin structure.
