Fairview The Beacon Shiraz 2023 is a full-bodied Paarl red built in a darker, more savory register, with the kind of structure that gives the wine both presence and staying power. This is not a soft, easygoing Shiraz. It leans into brooding fruit, spice, and meaty detail, showing a style that feels grounded in both site and grape variety. For drinkers who enjoy South African Shiraz with power, shape, and a more serious edge, this is a compelling bottle.
The wine opens with aromas of dark plum, berry compote, baking spice, pepper, and a faint note of salty licorice. On the palate, dense black fruit is joined by charcuterie and dried olive, giving the wine a distinctly savory feel beneath its ripe core. Fine, powdery tannins carry the wine well, keeping the richness in check and drawing it into a long, structured finish. It is a natural match for grilled lamb, venison, or grass-fed beef, where its weight, spice, and savory detail can settle comfortably alongside the food.
Still youthful, this is a Shiraz that already shows plenty of character, but it should gain even more harmony and nuance with a few years in bottle.
The wine opens with aromas of dark plum, berry compote, baking spice, pepper, and a faint note of salty licorice. On the palate, dense black fruit is joined by charcuterie and dried olive, giving the wine a distinctly savory feel beneath its ripe core. Fine, powdery tannins carry the wine well, keeping the richness in check and drawing it into a long, structured finish. It is a natural match for grilled lamb, venison, or grass-fed beef, where its weight, spice, and savory detail can settle comfortably alongside the food.
Still youthful, this is a Shiraz that already shows plenty of character, but it should gain even more harmony and nuance with a few years in bottle.
Our dryland vineyard on Glenrosa soils delivers beautifully ripened fruit without stress. Grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed, and sorted berry by berry before wild fermentation in open-top French oak foudres. Manual punch-downs and pump-overs brought gentle extraction. After basket pressing, the wine matured 18 months in 35% new French oak. Bottled with minimal filtration to preserve purity and character.
Winemaker: Anthony de Jager
Winemaker: Anthony de Jager
Fairview is a working farm, housing a collection of micro-businesses all sharing in a common goal – to craft artisanal and sustainable produce, with a focus on fine wine and cheese. Everything they do is driven by their philosophy of being honest, honoring their heritage and ensuring their ingenuity. Eager to explore a wider range of wines using grapes grown in optimal conditions, Charles Back abandoned the estate wine concept in the 1980s, choosing rather to “go where the terroir is”. Today, they are one of the few farms that proudly own all their own vineyards, with land in Paarl, Darling, Swartland and Stellenbosch.
