Buying guide: Pinotage
About the category: This cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (also called Hermitage) was first engineered by Stellenbosch University’s Professor Abraham Perold in 1925. Perhaps the variety’s greatest attribute is the depth of fruit it delivers but it needs careful winemaking if rustic, inelegant wines are to be avoided.
Key findings: There was a wide spread of quality. The best wines in the category were not simply technically correct but displayed real points of interest; unfortunately, there were many basic faults at the other end of the spectrum with wines showing microbacterial spoilage character, oxidation, and a lack of authenticity whether through cynical oaking to achieve a coffee character or the addition of other varieties (Shiraz, Viognier) not declared subsequently.
Soundbite: “Pinotage does have merit – witness how well the wines of the 1970s are showing more than 30 years on. Introducing coffee flavours is cynical and does the grape no justice.” – Jonathan Steyn, Wine Tasting Academy graduate.
BEST VALUE PINOTAGE – TOP THREE WINES ON PRICE
Wines rated 2 Stars or better and recommended for particularly good value on the basis of their quality/price ratio in the context of the average price per bottle:
1. Swartland 2008 4 Stars R31
2. Bottelary 2006* (Perdeberg) 2 Stars R20.51
3. Koelenbosch 2006 (Koelenhof) 3 Stars R35
ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR?
Average price of the 95 Pinotage wines assessed: R70
Average price per 750ml of the 5 wines rated 4 to 4 stars: R131
Average price per 750ml of the 18 wines rated 3 to 3 stars: R74
Average price per 750ml of the 24 wines rated 2 stars: R57
Average price per 750ml of the 35 wines rated 2 stars: R70
Average price per 750ml of the 13 wines rated less than 2 stars: R70
? ? ? ? ? four and a half stars
Simonsig Redhill 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R132
Alc 14.49% RS 2.1g/l TA 5.3g/l pH 3.59
Very dark in colour. Attractive oak spice on
the nose. Palate shows concentrated dark
fruit, bright acidity and firm tannins. Very
rich but harmonious. Needs time – keep for
2 to 6 years.
CE 18 AL 18 JS 16.5 CA 17 JP 16.5
Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R190
Alc 14% RS 1.5g/l TA 5.7g/l pH 3.6
Very dark in colour. Prominent oak on the
nose. Palate is densely structured with good
purity of fruit, fresh acidity and powdery
tannins. Rich and powerful. Keep for 2 to
6 years.
CE 16 AL 16.5 JS 16 CA 17.5 JP 18
? ? ? ? four stars
Swartland 2008
CELLAR PRICE: R31
Alc 14% RS 2.25g/l TA 5.61g/l pH 3.59
Ripe berry fruit on the nose and palate.
Bright acidity and good tannic grip. Well balanced
and immediately approachable. Drink
now or over the next 2 years.
CE 16 AL 16 JS 14.5 CA 16 JP 16.5
Sumaridge 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R80
Alc 14.5% RS 1.49g/l TA 6.8g/l pH 3.40
Very dark in colour. Brooding nose with
hints of spice. Palate shows excellent balance
between dark cherry fruit, bright acidity and
well judged oak. Persistent finish. Keep for
2 to 4 years.
CE 16 AL 16 JS 17.5 CA 15.5 JP 17
DeWaal Top of The Hill 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R225
Alc 14.11% RS 2.1g/l TA 5.5g/l pH 3.74
Very dark in colour. Shy nose. Palate is
medium bodied and elegant. Sweet, clean
fruit and good tannic grip. Very stylish. Keep
for 2 to 6 years.
CE 16 AL 17 JS 16 CA 18 JP 15.5
? ? ? ? three and a half stars
Spier Signature 2007 R44
Jacksons Limited Release 2007 R65
(Stanford Hills)
Spier Private Collection 2006 R148
? ? ? three stars
Koelenbosch 2006 (Koelenhof) R35
Backsberg 2007 R48
Eikendal 2007 R50
Virgin Earth 2006 ARP R53.29
Durbanville Hills 2007 R59
Wildekrans 2007 R64
Devon Rocks 2007 ARP R65
Stellenzicht Golden Triangle 2007 R65
Kaapzicht 2006 R68
Deetlefs 2007 R75
Windmeul Reserve 2007 R75
Painted Wolf 2008 R85
Tukulu 2006 (Bergkelder) ARP R94.83
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem 2007 R99
KWV The Mentors 2006 R135
? ? ? two and half stars
Bottelary 2006* (Perdeberg) R20.51
Rooiberg 2007 R30
Van Loveren 2008 R32
Welmoed 2007 R32
(the company of wine people)
Five’s Reserve 2008 (Van Loveren) R33
Arniston Bay Reserve 2007* R34.20
(the company of wine people)
Eaglevlei 2007 R35
Landskroon 2007 R35
Simonsvlei Premier Selection 2007 R37
Villiera 2007 R44
StellenRust 2008* R48
Bellingham Pinotage R52
with a dash of Petit Verdot 2007 ARP
Fleur du Cap 2007 (Bergkelder) ARP R55
Nederburg Winemaster’s R55
Reserve 2007
Viljoensdrift River Grandeur 2007 R55
Signatures of Doolhof 2007 R65
ONYX 2006 (Darling Cellars) R67.35
Lammershoek 2007 R75
Graham Beck 2008 R78
Zonnebloem 2007 (Bergkelder) ARP R79
KWV Cathedral Cellar 2007 R87
Beaumont 2006 R90
Beyerskloof Reserve 2007 R97.50
DeWaal CT De Waal 2007 R120
? ? two stars
Sizanani 2008* (Bellevue) R22
Aan de Doorns 2007 R24
Bovlei 2007 R28
Bottelary Reserve 2005 (Perdeberg) R28.61
Simonsvlei Lifestyle 2007 R29
Du Toitskloof 2007 R30
Zidela 2007 ARP R31
Arniston Bay 2006 R34.20
(the company of wine people)
Meerkat 2008* (Schalk Burger & Sons) R35
e Ruins 2008* (Bon Cap) R35
Sonop Organic 2007 (African Terroir) R39
Whalehaven 2008 R48
Le Manoir de Brendel 2007 R49
Neethlingshof 2005 R49
Alvi’s Drift Premium Selection 2007 R51.30
Mooiplaas 2004 R51.50
Bergsig 2007 R52
Indalo 2006 (Swartland) R53
Conradie Single Vineyard R55
Barrel Selection Reserve 2007
Bovlei Centenary 2008 R60
Freedom Hill 2007 R63
Bon Cap 2007 R65
Jacobsdal 2005 (Bergkelder) ARP R69.70
Welbedacht 2007 (Schalk Burger & Sons) R75
Longridge 2005 R83
Dornier 2007 R90
Groot Constantia 2007 R96
Neethlingshof Lord Neethling 2005 R100
Saam Mountain R110
Leeuwenkuil 2006 (Perdeberg)
Wildekrans Barrel Selection 2007 R115
Laroche L’Avenir Pinotage 2007 R120
Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge R129
Unfi ltered 2007
Kanonkop 2006 R150
Southern Right 2007 R150
Flagstone Writer’s Block 2006* R195
(Constellation Wines SA)Major’s Hill 2007 R70
Marklew Cape Flora 2007 R80
PK Morkel 2005 (Bellevue) R106
Kaapzicht Steytler 2005 R180
ALSO TASTED
Bernheim 2007 R27.50
Stellendrift Kruispad 2005* R48
Boland Winemaker’s Selection 2006 R60
Hartenberg 2005 R65
Bilton 2007
PRICES: wines in each quality grouping are
listed in order of ascending price -
all ex-cellar unless otherwise stipulated.
ARP Approximate retail price
* Bottled under screwcap
WINE TASTERS: editor of WINE magazine
Christian Eedes (chair) (CE), wine
writer Angela Lloyd (AL) and Wine Tasting
Academy Graduates Jonathan Steyn of
Balthazar (JS), Carrie Adams of retailer
Norman Goodfellows (CA) and James
Pietersen (JP).
Tagged Wine Categories explained
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jpAugust 4, 2009 at 12:00 am
I have treated myself and my wife to a wine tasting and driving in the Stellenbosch area, it was more of a personal excursion. I was on the mission to find one of the more famous wines in Europe, produced in Stellenbosch, a mere stone throw from my house in Sumer Southwest.
If this is a buyers guide for true value for money, why dose Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve 2007 not feature? I have read a peace a while ago on their grand gold achievement at the Concours Mondial, Bruxelles. As I understand, a ridiculous amount of +/- 6000 entries world wide gets entered, of which only 20 gets announced as grand gold winners and 2 of those where South African. 1 of that two was the Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve 2007out of 6000 entries world wide..surely they deserve a spot on the buyers guide of Pinotage!