B Vintners Liberté Pinotage 2015

Gavin Bruwer of B Vintners.

Pinotage may no longer be radically uncool (see here) but it still needs a few more really good new-wave wines to give it meaningful international recognition. B Vintners which is the joint venture between Bruwer Raats of Raats Family Wines and cousin Gavin Bruwer made a promising debut with its maiden 2014 vintage of B Vintners Liberté but the 2015 is a game-changer.

From three vineyards all more or less 30 years old and in the general vicinity of Bottelary area of Stellenbosch, the wine underwent spontaneous fermentation and was matured in old oak for some 14 months.

The nose is wonderfully fragrant but not gauche with notes of flowers, herbs, spice and earth, not to mention red and black cherry and even some black olive. The palate, meanwhile, shows pure fruit, fresh but not hard acidity and the most fantastic tannins – grippy but not astringent, they leave the mouth dry and waiting for some food. Hipster reds sometimes lack intensity but you can’t say that about this wines.  It’s gorgeous, life-enhancing, smile-enducing stuff. Price: R245 a bottle.

#WinemagRating: 95/100.

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