Swartland, South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon

Can you get a decent kosher wine at this bargain price?...

Malmesbury, South Africa

We have reviewed several South African wines, including low-priced kosher ones. The results tended to be better than expected. Today’s wine comes from the Swartland region north west of Capetown, near the city of Malmesbury. It was produced by a cooperative founded by 15 local winemakers in 1948. This venture has prospered; the co-op now produces 2 million cases a year on 3600 hectares (slightly short of 9000 acres). Their vineyards get breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, and are close to the mountains. The climate is dry, and the vines are low-yield. In the autumn they sow grain seed between the rows of grapes to keep minerals and nutrients from washing away in the spring. Swartland WO is one of many South African wine designations. Cabernet Sauvignon often does well in South Africa. By the way, even though this is a 2005, I bought it recently. Today’s companion wine is a slightly more expensive kosher Cabernet Sauvignon from another Southern Hemisphere location, Argentina.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Welnerberg Cabernet Sauvignon WO Swartland 2005 13.9% alcohol about $10

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Opaque garnet in appearance, the nose suggests intense candied cassis, cherry, and floral. Full-bodied, the attack is soft and fruity and the finish reveals some astringency. And now for my review.

Swartland Vineyards

At the first sips I found the wine chewy, long, and well-balanced. The initial meal was thin yellow peppers stuffed with a delicious mixture of ground turkey, rice, garlic, onion, cumin, and allspice on a boiled, sliced potato base. The wine’s dominant taste was blueberry, not enough for a blueberry wine, but definitely blueberry, oaky blueberry.

My next meal started with barbecued chicken wings. This wine had soft tannins, refreshing acidity, and tasted mostly of caramel. When it faced chili with rice it became darker with crisp acidity and balanced tannins. The side dish of zucchini, squash, stewed tomatoes, and onions rendered the libation chewy with the taste of dark cherries.

My final meal was baked chicken legs and sliced potatoes that had been marinated in soy and onion. With the chicken this Cab was chewy and oaky; it had fine length and good acidity. It darkened as it faced the potatoes.

The cheese tasting was preceded with Matjes herring. The wine once again tasted of black cherries. It had light acidity and almost no tannins. When it met a marbled cheddar cheese the Cabernet Sauvignon weakened. It tried to bounce back but was not very expressive. In the presence of a rather tasty Israeli Kashkaval sheep cheese the Cab did bounce back with some oak.

Final verdict. I would buy this wine again. It did fairly well for a bargain, kosher wine, which, by the way, is kosher for Passover and Mevushal.

Access the companion wine A San Martin, Argentina Cabernet Sauvignon (Under $15)

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine websites include
www.theworldwidewine.com    and    http://www.wineinyourdiet.com

Visit his website devoted to italian travel www.travelitalytravel.com

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