We are very excited to announce that our maiden 2019 vintage is a Winner of the Absa Top 10 Pinotage 2021 competition.
The results were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony at the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl on Tuesday 31 August 2021. It is an overwhelming feeling to make it to the Top 10 in this, our first entry into this competition.
Grapes come from two 27-year-old dryland bush vine vineyards, one in Paarl and one in Wellington, both planted on a slight southeastern slope.
Handpicked grapes were destemmed, sorted and fermented in open top fermenters at 27°C. The cap was punched down every two hours during fermentation.
The juice was drawn off the skins after five days. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to 225ℓ French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation took place in a combination of 70% new and 30% second fill barrels. The wine was matured for 24 months in barrel.
Layered aromas of soft blueberries and fresh cherries are underpinned by delicious hints of spice and vanilla pod, producing an elegant balance between oak and fruit. Enticing ruby red in colour, the wine is rounded and surprisingly smooth with a velvety finish. The spicy vanilla and oaky notes follow through on the palate, giving weight to the flavour profile wrapped up in aromas of raspberries and dark plums.