With the passion of the artist she is, Jayne Beaumont committed her family to explore the treasures in their vineyards. In the early 1990s, Jayne made wine from their very old pinotage vines - some more than 40 years old - using the original cellar facilities that were over 200 years old. Surprising even herself, the quality of the wine was lauded with critical acclaim. Since these heady days, the whole Beaumont family has become involved - husband, Raoul, daughter Ariane (marketing) and son Sebastian (viticulture and winemaker).
Never one to settle for just making wine, the Beaumont’s continually challenge themselves, and every year experiment with portions of their wine. The result of such drive is the addition of Mourvedre in the 2002 shiraz and the use of two different wild yeasts in their Chenin Blancs - a few of the many examples. The effect is immediately noticeable with the wonderful berry aromas and, in the case of the Shiraz, the weight of the mid-palate. The Beaumont’s relentlessly pursue their goal to make complex and interesting wines that must also conjure elegance and, of course, taste good - we do after all drink these with a meal!
Beaumont is located in the area of Bot River, about 5 miles from the South Atlantic Ocean near the holiday resort of Hermanus. On the southerly slopes of the mountain range, the Beaumont estate faces south and west, open to the cold Antarctic winds that blow onto the Cape. Beaumont’s location is considered a cool-climate area. This is noticeable in their wines by the lush fruit and although some of the alcohol levels are high, the wines are never “hot”.
The Beaumont’s are RENOWNED for their Chenin Blancs and Pinotage. Following closely are critically acclaimed Shiraz and Bordeaux blend, Ariane - both relative newcomers to this all-star line-up. All of these wines are HIGHLY allocated.
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click on label images to enlarge
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BEAUMONT CHENIN BLANC
Wonderful
crunchy green apple with jasmine-like aromas and rounding notes of warm
honey. Good texture in this medium bodied wine that has become a
favorite deck wine. It also pairs well with asian pear salad and goats
cheese.
4 star, value, John Platter
"Consistent, distinctive individual from old vines. sports usual
greenage, floral concentration merged in elegant, honeyed mouthfeel.
Lond, more-ish & promising 4/5 year potential"
88 (+) Steve Tanzer, IWC "Bright clear yellow. High-pitched aromas of lemon drop, apple, flowers
and crushed stone, complicated by a metallic quality. Bright, chewy and
penetrating, with ripe but very dry flavors of white plum, honey and
tropical fruits. Dense but light on its feet: this cool, tightly coiled
wine needs time."
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HOPE MARGUERITE CHENIN BLANC
Named after Raoul’s mother, Hope Marguerite is a 40
year old single vineyard chenin blanc fermented with natural yeasts and
aged in 400l French
barriques. With scents of melons and marzipan, the hints of spice have a
great balance with the tropical fruit and fresh pineapple finish.
96 cases produced
4 1/2 star, John Platter "Best yet of this barrel fermented
versions. Botrytis hint augments seductive honeyed tones, extra
subtleties from native yeasts. Succulent yet unheavy, courtesy brilliant
acid/sugar tension"
Trophy winner Decanter Magazine : 2008 vintage awarded #1 white wine over £10
89 pts, Steve Tanzer IWC "Medium bright yellow. Wild aromas of ginger, honey, licorice and exotic
flowers. Suave on entry, then perfumed in the middle palate, with
lemon, lime and geranium notes and a suggestion of candied botrytis
tones. A rich and fairly sweet version of chenin with good floral lift"
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Beaumont Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2010 shelf talker (pdf)
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BEAUMONT PINOTAGE
Intense, plummy red berry fruits with an elegant
fruit driven palate backed by rich grainy tannins and a warm, firmly
structured finish with savory notes of earth. Sebastian says this
vintage is a "real Walker Bay pinotage, on the classic side".
2200 cases produced
4 star, John Platter "Delicious mouthful pure fresh respberies
& redcurrants, held by finest fo dry tannins, fresh backbone. Spicy
Am oak need 12-18 months to settle, good few years ahead."
89 pts, Tanzer IWC “Bright, dark red. Vibrant aromas of raspberry, blueberry, redcurrant
and spices, with hints of leather, smoky oak and dark chocolate.
Supple, fresh and moderately sweet; more pliant than the 2004 version.
The pure berry flavors are complicated by subtle soil tones. In a
rather modern, fruit-driven style but with excellent intensity and
thrust and a captivating light touch. Finishes with good spine and
grip, but I'd want to drink this classy pinotage in its youth for its
fresh fruit.”
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Beaumont Pinotage 2008 fact sheet (pdf)
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Beaumont Pinotage 2008 shelf talker (pdf)
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BEAUMONT ARIANE 2004
30% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 30% cabernet franc, 7% malbec, 3% petit verdot
Rich in dark berry fruits, chocolate and spices. Dark broody black berry fruit, hints of spice and firm grainy tannins.
940 cases produced
4 star, John Platter "fragrantly fresh blackberry and oak tones beautifully melded in well-tailored but unsevere frame. Lovely potential."
87 pts, Steve Tanzer "(a five-variety Bordeaux blend) Red-ruby. Dark berries, black cherry,
licorice and spice on the nose. Penetrating sweet berry flavors
complicated by flowers and licorice and supported by ripe acids. Falls
down a bit on the slightly tart finish, which shows a note of drying
oak."
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BEAUMONT GOUTTE d'OR
80% Semillon/20% Sauvignon blanc, naturally occurring botrytis. The name translates as ‘drop of gold’ and its color has indeed a rich golden hue. Concentrated dried fruits, floral, orange peel and honey aromas. The palate has an elegant viscous feel of honey, apricots and spices, finishing clean and citrusy. Good, clean acidity for a well-balanced aperitif/dessert wine. Residual sugar 106 grams per litre.
150 cases produced
Highly allocated
4 star, John Platter "Blend honeyed semillon, freshening sauvignon (65/35) with dusty botrytis complexity."
4 star, Grape Magazine
Time Magazine, "a real beauty - a woody ambrosia bursting with honey, apple and apricot notes."
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BEAUMONT CAPE VINTAGE PORT 2002
Highly allocated. Traditional foot-stomping in an open fermenter, this is the family’s fun time after the crush of harvest. Made essentially for themselves, we convinced them to let us have a couple of cases a few years ago...and how people love this port. We now get a “large” allocation of up to 30 cases!!
50% pinotage, 50% tinta barocca. Two years in old oak casks. Very dark, brick red and purple color. The intense, spicy nose is dominated by cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and dark berry fruits. A big, well-balanced palate of dark plummy fruit, spices with a hint of tasty wood, backed by pleasing acid structure and nice dry tannins.
75 cases produced
3.5 star, John Platter
4 star, Wine Magazine
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