Beau Joubert Fat Pig 500ML

Beau Joubert Fat Pig 500ML is a 100% Shiraz Cape Vintage fortified wine from Stellenbosch, South Africa, bottled at 17% ABV in a 500ml format. A Silver Medal winner at the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting (2023), this expression distinguishes itself with a notably drier profile than many traditional sweet port-style Cape Vintages, delivering layered complexity from 36 months of barrel aging.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17%  |  Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa  |  Cape Vintage (Fortified Wine)  |  Producer: Beau Joubert

Production & Heritage

Beau Joubert is a Stellenbosch-based estate situated in one of South Africa's most celebrated wine-producing regions. The Fat Pig Cape Vintage is made from 100% Shiraz grapes, a less common varietal choice for the category, where Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barocca more frequently dominate. The wine is barrel-aged for a full 36 months before being hand-bottled and hand-labelled, a process that imparts the developed, oxidative character central to its identity. The result is a fortified wine that leans toward elegance and restraint rather than overt sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe dark fruit before giving way to dried fruits, crushed nuts, and an intriguing thread of mint humbugs and fynbos — the indigenous South African scrubland that often signals terroir in Stellenbosch wines. There is a gentle earthiness underneath that adds depth.

Taste: The palate entry is sweet and sticky, coating the mouth with concentrated blackberry fruit and hints of raisin. At mid-palate, leathery spice emerges and the wine pivots toward a drier, more structured profile than expected for a Cape Vintage. The overall impression is one of elegance and balance rather than cloying richness.

Finish: The finish is medium-long, marked by dried fruit, raisins, and lingering spice. A subtle leather note persists alongside a smooth, slightly dry texture that invites another sip.

How to Drink Fat Pig

Best served slightly below room temperature — around 16–18°C — in a small tulip glass to concentrate the aromatics. Sipping neat after dinner is the most rewarding approach, though a small measure over a single ice cube can open up the dried-fruit and spice layers on warmer evenings. The Fat Pig's drier style and spice character also make it surprisingly versatile: try it in a Port Tonic, where the bittersweet combination highlights its blackberry fruit; in a Cobbler, shaken with citrus and seasonal berries for a refreshing long drink; or as the base in a Chocolate Flip, where its leathery depth pairs naturally with egg and dark cacao.

Best For

• An after-dinner digestif with a cheese course
• Gifting a fortified wine lover something outside the Portuguese mainstream
• Exploring South African Cape Vintage alongside classic ports
• Winter evenings paired with dark chocolate or roasted nuts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fat Pig taste like? Fat Pig delivers concentrated blackberry and dried fruit sweetness balanced by leathery spice, with a drier, more elegant finish than many traditional Cape Vintage or port-style wines.

How does Fat Pig compare to Overgaauw Cape Vintage? Overgaauw is widely recognized as a South African fortified wine specialist and was the first local producer to bottle a 100% Touriga Nacional port-style wine, lending their Cape Vintage a more classically Portuguese profile. Fat Pig takes a different path by using 100% Shiraz, which produces a spicier, slightly drier result with more peppery dark-fruit character.

Is Fat Pig good for sipping neat? Yes — at 17% ABV it sits lower in alcohol than many fortified wines, making it approachable and smooth on its own, especially after a meal.

Where is Fat Pig made? Fat Pig is produced by the Beau Joubert estate in Stellenbosch, a premier wine region in the Western Cape of South Africa known for its Shiraz and Bordeaux-style red wines.

What foods pair well with Fat Pig? Aged cheddar or blue cheese complements its dried-fruit sweetness; dark chocolate echoes its leathery depth; roasted walnuts mirror the nutty aromas on the nose; biltong plays off the spice and savory undertones; and a rich fig tart bridges the gap between the wine's fruit and its drier finish.

What sizes does Fat Pig come in? Fat Pig is available in a 500ml bottle, the standard format for many Cape Vintage and port-style fortified wines.

Is Fat Pig worth the price? Fat Pig positions as an accessible entry into fortified wine, offering 36 months of barrel aging and international medal recognition at a price point that sits well within the value tier for Cape Vintages.

Why Fat Pig?

What separates this Cape Vintage from the crowd is its varietal identity — 100% Shiraz is an uncommon foundation for a South African fortified wine, and it delivers a distinctly spicier, more peppery character than Touriga-based peers. Three full years in barrel give it a developed, oxidative complexity that belies its modest price tier. Silver medals at both the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting and the London Wine Competition confirm that this is a serious, well-made fortified wine rather than a novelty. For anyone curious about South African fortified wines beyond the usual suspects, Fat Pig is a credible and rewarding starting point.