I had the pleasure of meeting Black Pearl winemaker Mary-Lou Nash, an American expat, at a party while in Stellenbosch, and was able to tell her in person that her cab/shiraz blend was one of my early South African wine discovery moments. One of my favorite Paarl producers, Black Pearl turns out some powerful and stunning reds.
I recently made a big leap from one aspect of the wine industry to another: I left my job at the winery for a position as a Wine Associate at Premium Wine and Spirits, a member of the Premier Group. The store has a great South African wine selection, and I've taken it upon myself to host a Wines of South Africa introductory class as my first public event at the company. In selecting wines for the class I brought home the Black Pearl 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon to assess it as a possible Paarl example of the stellar 2003 vintage.
Dark, deep black-raspberry in the glass, with the gorgeous grit characteristic of an unfined and unfiltered red, this cab packed such a wallop on first whiff that I assumed my tender-palated mom and new-to-wine sister would hate it and that it was a bad choice for a family dinner. On the contrary, they lingered in the kitchen sneaking sips while I cooked until I poured them their own glasses. Boozy and dense at 14.5%ABV, it shows intense aromas of tar and cassis and smooth, elegant tannins, but commanded serious attention and a more purposeful meal than the country bean pasta we were eating. I decanted to give it some air and revisited the next day. Much smoother this time, the rusticity really came through along with chocolate and blackcurrant and revealed a wine of poise and excellent length. It's a great example of a fine Paarl red and definitely will make a nice showstopper in my class.
Black Pearl 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine of Origin: Paarl
Importer: Southern Starz
Price: $24.99
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