Ruby, purple, red and deeper colours. It’s always quite fascinating to stare at a young pinotage in the glass, this one very vibrant and reflective.
The bouquet unfurls sour red fruits with some black fruit wafts but the red fruits are certainly far more noticeable. There’s a liquorice fragrance underneath the fruit and some spice.
The palate is long, gliding with a satin like effect, succulent, smooth and mouth-filling. 2022 was a wet veraison but that doesn’t appear to have detracted from these Pinotage grapes. Red sour cherries combine with a little raspberry and red plum influence, black berries are in the glass but struggle to produce much of an effect, liquorice and aniseed say hello with some intricately ground black pepper and then a little earthy carry with salt and minerals precedes a very fine tannic exit. The wines flavours linger producing a very pleasurable late palate that just wants to pucker slightly and return you for the next sip. The acidity is slightly refreshing and adds to the enjoyment factor of this (just) medium bodied wine.
For those who aren’t yet aware Pinotage was developed in South Africa by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault. This ‘home grown’ Pinotage expresses the elegance of Granite Belt Terroir.
Tasted: Saturday 3rd June, 2023 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $62
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 – 2032
Winemaker: Mark Ravenscroft, Nick Roberts, Caitlin Hawkes Roberts
Fruit Source: Estate
Oak: French
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