Noble Hill Estate is located in the Simonsig-Paarl region of South Africa, about 28 miles north of Cape Town. This area is rich in wine-making history going back to the 1700s. Noble Hill makes a full line of whites and reds, but today’s wine is fashioned as a Bordeaux-type blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The style is dense and chewy and a good bet for further bottle aging. Only 23, 225-liter French oak barrels were produced.
2011 Noble Hill Estate Blend $19 srp
Dark garnet hue with lightening rim. Heady aromatics of oak-tinged black cherry, concentrated black currant with olive, road tar and charcoal overtones. Flavors are medium-bodied with strong, slightly roasted berry elements and a bit of menthol. Solid tannins “structure” the wine rather than gripping your palate. This might have been called a “masculine” wine in another era—there’s nothing pretty about it! It forges ahead like a centurion with remarkable power yet balance. Drink now with lamb, truffled polenta or a rich chili. Can age through 2022.
89/100 points
