Paarl, home to the first white pinotage, pinotage-fortified dessert wine and the first wine blend of tempranillo, tannat and tinta amarella. Today we’re mentally taking a trip to the second oldest wine region in South Africa: where rich, full bodied reds and crisp whites are made.

The farm is Backsberg who bottled their first vintage in 1916. Fastforward just over a century, yes a century and you get me, walking in a Checker’s liquor, scanning the shelves for something that catches my eye. Having come from a wine event just 2 days before that, my ‘sophistication-radar’ was all tuned up and ready to guide me in my next taste bud adventure.

Imagine the boldness of the cabernet franc and the fruitiness of the sauvignon blanc all in one. What do you get? One of the youngest but most commonly grown varietals, the cabernet sauvignon. Okay, there I got getting all factual, let’s get down to business.

On the nose is a very strong sense of blackcurrant and a touch of peach with a touch of cinnamon. It’s quite the classy taste: Classy in the sense that one sip is so powerful that you can’t deny that this is a good wine. More on the taste, I was eating some roasted paprika-flavoured chicken and not to influence the taste but these two combined was an explosion of smokiness, oak spice flavours, firm tannins with a lingering aftertaste.

This is the second time I have done a WineSnob review, so here it is:

Taste: 9/10

Smell: 8/10

Label: 7/10

Pocket-Friendly’ness’: 8/10

Pairing: 7/10- with my smoked paprika roasted chicken. I think it was the fatty skin that just layered my tongue and brought a totally different dimension in its taste.

The label: 8/10- simple and classic.

Since the overall experience of wine tasting is completely subjective, I urge you to use this amazing wine review and purchase a bottle for yourself. I got mine for R120/bottle at checkers Liquor. Pop in, you might find it a little cheaper.

PS: It is good to know that Backsberg is the first carbon neutral winery.

Enjoy!