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Dec
Recent Wine Winners
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We’ve been busy submitting wines for review, and the efforts are paying off. Listed below are a few highlights of “top” awards recently achieved by our producers.... Read More
Backsberg Selections
Backsberg started with a penniless political and religious refugee from Lithuania who arrived on the shores of Cape Town in 1902. C.L. Back first made a living as a bicycle delivery ‘boy’ until he purchased a butcher shop at Paarl train station. Old legend has it that someone approached C.L. in the shop and asked about his interest in buying a farm, resulting in him selling the butcher shop and acquiring what was then known as Klein Babylonstoren, nestled in the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in 1916. Back then, the crops consisted of mainly grain, livestock, fruit, and eventually wine grapes. In the early 20’s, wine was sold to the KWV or in bulk to destinations such as England. Tankers of wine were loaded for shipment to France to compensate for the wine shortage after WWII. C. L.’s son Sydney Back created ‘Back’s Wines’ as a brand in 1969, followed by Backsberg. 2016 marks 100 years of Backsberg traditions at the vineyard.
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WINES BY BACKSBERG
BLACK LABEL
KOSHER
PREMIUM
TREAD LIGHTLY
JOHN MARTIN SAUVIGNON BLANC – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Coastal, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2016
Silver Medal – Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge UK (PV)
Silver Medal – Michelangelo Wine Awards (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Sauvignon Blanc- lightly wooded
PALATE/BOUQUET: Gooseberry, green fig and guava aromas with grassy undertones combined with elegance and freshness, adds to the intriguing qualities of this wine.
WINE DETAILS: 3.37 pH, 2.1 g/L Res. Sugar, 13.5% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: – This artisan wine was 100% sustainably grown in a Mediterranean climate from 12 year old vines in the Coastal Region of South Africa.
KLEIN BABYLONS TOREN – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2014
Double Gold Medal – Veritas
Gold Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (PV)
Gold Medal – New York World Wine and Spirits Competition
Silver Medal – TEXSOM Wine Awards 2018
91 pts – James Suckling (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot – wooded for 18 months
PALATE/BOUQUET: A specially crafted cuvee, made to best display each vintage’s varietal intensity and character. Violets, cassis and dried herb aromas are prominent, with blackberry and earthy, forest floor characters on the palate. The fine fruit tannins together with carefully extracted oak tannins support the intensity of the fruit on the palate.
WINE DETAILS: 3.52 pH, 2.7 g/L Res. Sugar, 14.34% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: – This artisan wine was 100% sustainably grown in a Mediterranean climate in the Paarl district of South Africa.
PUMPHOUSE SHIRAZ – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Coastal, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2011, 2013
90 pts – Wine Spectator (PV)
Gold Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
Silver Medal – Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
Silver Medal – TEXSOM Wine Awards
91 pts – James Suckling (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Shiraz – oak aged for 18 months
PALATE/BOUQUET: Blackberry, raspberry and rich mocha aromas are interlaced with subtle aniseed and vanilla tones. The use of both French and American oak creates layers of flavors, with the latter contributing sweeter vanilla characters that fill the midpalate. The palate has great weight and depth due to layers of fruit tannins, oak combinations and sheer flavor intensity.
WINE DETAILS: 4.03 pH, 3.0 g/L Res. Sugar, 13.9% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: The vineyards are trained on the Lyre system with sun-worshipping, open-armed vines, that ensure optimal ripeness and healthy fruit. Sustainably farmed.
KOSHER BRUT MCC – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2016, 2017
89 pts – Wine Enthusiast
88 pts – Tasting Panel Magazine
Silver Medal – WSW Wine Competition
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Chardonnay
PALATE/BOUQUET: A lively and extremely fine mousse with delicate fruit flavors and a leesy backbone. The finish is light, fresh and lingering.
WINE DETAILS: 3.33 pH, 6.8 g/L Res. Sugar, 12.12% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Directly after crush and exposure of the juice, all winemaking is handled by a Supervisor from the Cape Town Beth Din. A fresh, low alcohol base wine is made and the wine is then flash-pasteurized. The wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, and the finished MCC is Mevushal and Kosher for Passover.
KOSHER CHARDONNAY – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2017
89 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
88 pts – Tasting Panel Magazine (PV)
Silver Medal & Best Buy – BTI – Tastings.com (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Chardonnay
PALATE/BOUQUET: Lemon zest, melon and hazelnut characters combine to give a complex, but fresh, nose and palate. Natural acidity is balanced by sweet fruit flavours of white peach, giving a medium-bodied wine with a long, rewarding finish.
WINE DETAILS: 3.52 pH, 4.3 g/L Res. Sugar, 13.32% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Chardonnay fruit, with ripe tropical flavours, is only lightly pressed for gentle extraction. Flash pasteurized in the juice stage of production and prepared with the Cape Town Beth Din, this wine is Mevushal and Kosher for passover.
KOSHER MERLOT – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2016
85 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 95% Merlot, 5% Durif
PALATE/BOUQUET: This wine displays aromas of raspberry and red plums, succulent sweet fruit flavors and finely integrated tannins.
WINE DETAILS: 3.51 pH, 2.1 g/L Res. Sugar, 13.57% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: A fermentation of 5 – 6 days with no maturation in oak creates a very fruit-forward Merlot. Flash pasteurized and prepared under supervision of the Cape Town Beth Din, this wine is Mevushal and Kosher for Passover.
KOSHER PINOTAGE – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2016
88 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
Silver Medal – Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
BLEND / COLOR: Pinotage
PALATE/BOUQUET: Blackberry, fruitcake and boiled sweets. A juicy mouth-feel with supple, sweet tannins.
WINE DETAILS: 3.68 pH, 3.7 g/L Res. Sugar, 14.27% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Fermented on the skins for 4 days, pressed, flash pasteurized and bottled early. This wine is prepared under supervision of the Cape Town Beth Din and is Mevushal and Kosher for Passover.
PREMIUM CABERNET SAUVIGNON – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2016
Silver Medal – Veritas
90 pts – James Suckling (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
PALATE/BOUQUET: Spicy aromas of liquorice and vanilla with blackcurrant fruit. Careful oaking provides the necessary structure for the ripe, full fruit-driven midpalate. Complex and long-lasting, this wine has depth and power and will improve with further bottle ageing.
WINE DETAILS: 3.56 pH, 2.8 g/L Res. Sugar, 14.5% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Sandy clay from Paarl vineyards, med-low yield. East – Southeast elevation.
PREMIUM CHARDONNAY – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2015
89 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
88 pts – Tasting Panel Magazine (PV)
Silver Medal – WSWA Wine Competition
Silver Medal & Best Buy – BTI – Tastings.com
88 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Chardonnay – fermented and matured with a selection of French oak chips, staves and barrels for 8 months.
PALATE/BOUQUET: A fusion of intense fruit-forward flavors of pineapple, cashew and cream is balanced by a fresh, citrus finish.
WINE DETAILS: 3.3 pH, 3.9 g/L Res. Sugar, 13.92% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: The fruit is from both younger vines, that drive the fruit profile, and low-yielding older vineyards, that provide a very finely structured backbone.
PREMIUM CHENIN BLANC – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Coastal, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2018
Silver Medal – WSWA Wine Competition
87 pts – eRobertParker.com (PV)
Silver Medal – Veritas
Bronze Medal – Texsom International Wine Awards
Bronze Medal – Veritas 2017
87 pts – Tim Atkin’s 2017 South Africa Special Report (PV)
91 pts – James Suckling (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Chenin Blanc
PALATE/BOUQUET: The wide array of aromatic characters include peach, melon and pineapple. Ripe fruit is tempered by finely balanced acidity to give a mouth-filling, yet refreshing, palate.
WINE DETAILS: 3.33 pH, 6 g/L Res. Sugar, 12.71% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Mediterranean climate. Grapes are brought in from Darling, Wellington and Paarl.
PREMIUM PINOTAGE – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Coastal, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2015, 2016
88 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
Silver Medal – Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
86 pts – Tim Atkin’s 2017 South Africa Special Report (PV)
Gold Medal – 2017 Vitis Vinifera Awards
90 pts – Wine Enthusiast (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 90% Pinotage, 10% Other (Grenache, Shiraz, Zinfandel)
PALATE/BOUQUET: Ripe cherry, coffee bean and sweet strawberry flavors are complemented by subtle undertones of dried herbs. This Pinotage has a juicy mouthfeel with supple, sweet tannins.
WINE DETAILS: 3.6 pH, 2.6 g/L Res. Sugar, 14.45% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Older vines on sandy, clay soils. A combination of Paarl and Wellington fruit. Mediterranean climate.
PREMIUM PINOTAGE ROSE – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Paarl, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2018
Double Gold – Rose Rocks – South African Rose Competition
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Pinotage
PALATE/BOUQUET: Red fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry give way to minty freshness gleaned from earlier picked fruit. Lightly tinted from red grape skins, this salmon hued wine is fruity and juicy on the palate. Low in tannins, it displays delightful notes of melon, ripe tropical fruit and strawberry.
WINE DETAILS: 3.37 pH, 3.6 g/L Res. Sugar, 12.76% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Clay loam, med-high yield. Mediterranean climate.
TREAD LIGHTLY MERLOT – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Western Cape, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2014
Bronze Medal – U.S. Professional Wine Judging (PV)
BLEND / COLOR: 100% Merlot – oaked 25%
PALATE/BOUQUET: Oak-derived vanilla nuances overlay a body of youngberry and mulberry fruit flavours. Fresh, yet soft, this wine provides great intensity with a supple texture. Bottled in PET.
WINE DETAILS: 3.43 pH, 2.0 g/L Res. Sugar, 14.4% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: 2 – 15 year old vineyards. Clay loam, med-high yield.
TREAD LIGHTLY ROSÉ – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Western Cape, South Africa)
Available Vintages: 2015, 2016
BLEND / COLOR: Grenache & Shiraz
PALATE/BOUQUET: Exuberant flavors of raspberry, strawberry and peach make up a seamless, friendly palate with a very good balance between fruit and acidity. An easy and refreshing wine, bottled in carbon neutral PET bottles.
WINE DETAILS: 3.06 pH, 26.2 g/L Res. Sugar, 11.95% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Mediterranean climate.
TREAD LIGHTLY SAUVIGNON BLANC – (Backsberg Estate Cellars – Western Cape, South Africa)
Available Vintages: OUT OF STOCK
90 pts – Wine Spectator (PV)
Gold Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (PV)
Silver Medal – Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
BLEND / COLOR:100% Sauvignon Blanc
PALATE/BOUQUET: Bursting with aromas of gooseberry and passion fruit, this lively wine matches aromatic intensity with freshness and balance. Lime and nettle characters predominate the palate, cleverly matching fruit sweetness with natural acidity. Bottled in carbon neutral PET bottles.
WINE DETAILS: 3.37 pH, 3.7 g/L Res. Sugar, 13.02% Alcohol by Vol.
REGION NOTES: Clay loam, med-high yield, 315m North East -facing Darling, Med yield South and Grabouw med yield East facing.