WTN: Fairview Shiraz 2008

WO Paarl

Rich purple in the glass.

A lovely nose: smoky, rich black fruit, vanilla.

Good weight in the mouth, smoky, black cherry, blackberries, very rich and intense, juicy, tarry, spicy, floral, lightly charred, high acidity, mocha, a big wine, almost chewy.

Drying, cherry, chocolate on the long finish.

A very impressive wine.

Purchased at $14.95 (Canadian) and a good QPR.

Fairview make at least half-a-dozen varietal Shiraz under various labels and names.

Owner Charles Back is fond of the variety and the different ways it can express itself; his father Cyril was one of the pioneers with Shiraz in SAf. Charles himself is pioneering other varieties new to SAf.

I visited the winery yesterday for a marathan tasting in which I had six from 'life-style' brand 'La Capra' to flagship Fairview 'Cyril Back'.

La Capra 09 - light fresh fruit

Fairview 09 - Sweet ripe fruit , inviting soft and spicy

Spice Route 08 - similar to the Fairview above, more powerful with a slightly sour finish

Faiview 05 'Jakkalsfontein' (single vineyard in Swartland) - black pepper nose, sweet ripe beryy fruits

Spice Rout 07 'Flagship Syrah' - Soft gentle inviting

Faiview 'Cyril Back' 2006 - Spice, pepper, sleekly generous complex and full bodied fruits, tannins integrated.

Not tasted, following single vineyard Shirazs:
Fairview The Beacon
Fairview Eenzaamheld


I thought the standard Fairview bottling offered the best QPR, and the Cyril Back was beautiful.

Those visiting the winery from the US and UK can order there wines wich will be delivered from stocks already shipped. Fairview have a warehouse in California which hold their entire range: they said they made a lot of sales this way to US football fans who visited during the 2010 World Cup. My order will be delivered the day after I return home.

Thanks for the in-depth background Peter.