Pinotage
300cl * Vegan * 14% ABV * Stellenbosch, South Africa
Pinotage is the quintessential South African red, crafted from some of the country's oldest vines. Now run by brothers Paul and Johann Krige, this family estate, named after cannon shots fired from Simonsberg Hill in the 17th and 18th centuries to warn Stellenbosch farmers of the arrival of a merchant ship in port.
Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar and team carry out all operations with great care with manual harvesting and meticulous sorting of the grapes. This Pinotage underwent pressing every two hours to ensure optimal extraction and has been aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 80% of which were new.
In Jeroboam (or Double Magnum) format, the 2020 Estate Pinotage has bold aromas of plums, blackberries, hints of liquorice and tar, layers of smoke, roasted nuts and rich vanilla on the nose. The palate is packed with flavours of plums, cherries, black figs, dark chocolate, blackberries and spicy oak. The beautifully integrated plush, creamy tannins with satisfying acidity result in a wonderfully balanced wine with a long finish, promising great maturation potential.
A fantastic food wine - serve with duck, game, lamb, smoked pork and Asian-style dishes, aromatic curries, venison meat with a plum and balsamic reduction. Its aging potential is 10-15 years from vintage, but can mature for longer under ideal conditions.
"This is a nuanced, beautifully expressed Pinotage from a master of the grape." 94 points, Tim Atkin MW - Special South Africa Report 2022
4.5 stars (93 points) - Platter's Wine Guide 2023