South Africa's Pinotage

Look what popped into my inbox today...

http://link.newsletter.epicurious.com/view/508991aadc87ac0b4fab855c13obe.opg/d4ff745d

The Epicurious Daily Sip newsletter all about our Country's signature varietal.

Now Epicurious is obviously international, but from the advertising and content one can assume their general market is the US of A.  Which is why it is so fantastic to see a uniquely South African varietal getting some airtime!

Of course the Beyerskloof Pinotage "Diesel" which they recommend goes without saying.  Beyerskloof is synonymous with all things Pinotage (Pinotage burgers,  Chenin Blanc/Pinotage white wine, Lagare fortified Pinotage) and really have made their mark in this varietal with awesome wines.  The farm itself is so inviting, a beautiful view from the restaurant deck and a completely relaxed and comfortable environment.

The other wine they mention is Kanonkop, this farm is just down the road from us, so I will definitely be making a stop there sometime to check out their Pinotages.  According to the Pinotage history, Kanonkop was actually one of the first farms in the country to plant Pinotage grapes.

Image: Diemersfontein website

Another predominantly Pinotage farm is Diemersfontein which make awesome wines.  Their Pinotage-on-tap festival is actually coming up on 12th October 2013.  When I tasted Diemersfontein Pinotage the first time I told the lady it was one of the few times I actually tasted the flavours she described, dark chocolate on the palate and coffee in the aftertaste.

While the newsletter gave a great description of a typical Pinotage, they forgot to mention the distinctive coffee and chocolate flavours one would usually find on the nose and palate. 
A lovely wine and proud to see it getting some recognition across the pond over there!

If you are looking for some other good bottles, the 2012 ABSA Top Ten Pinotages were as follows:

• Altydgedacht Estate 2011 (Durbanville)
• Diemersdal Estate 2011 (Durbanville)
• Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Pinotage 2011 (Durbanville)
• Painted Wolf Guillermo Pinotage 2009 (Swartland)
• Rijks Private Cellar Pinotage 2008 (Tulbagh)
• Simonsig Estate Redhill Pinotage 2010 (Stellenbosch)
• Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2010 (Stellenbosch)
• Swartland Bush Vines Pinotage 2010 (Swartland)
• Wellington Wines La Cave Pinotage 2010 (Wellington)
• Windmeul Reserve Pinotage 2011 (Paarl)

 
Got get yourself a bottle to enjoy and let me know if you find some other good ones!

Wine with dinner - Diemersfontein Pinotage

Another occasion and another great bottle of wine!

 The wine was actually one of my birthday presents, a gift box containing one Pinotage and one Carpe Diem Pinotage Reserve.  Seeing as we were eating a gourmet meal of KFC, we opted for the Pinotage and decided to save the Reserve for something a little more sophisticated.  (We ate first and then enjoyed the wine, so as to not tarnish any flavours - obviously!).


Diemersfontein is well known for being one of the first  (if not THE first) coffee / chocolate Pinotages.
Just to check how "coffee" the coffee hints are, we compared the smells of the wine to a bag of ground beans from our local roastery (Bean in Love, Main Street, Paarl).  While you can smell the coffee, the nose of the wine is softened by the berry aromas and is definitely not as harsh or bitter as the ground coffee.

We also tested the difference an aerator (an awesome, very smart gift from my sister) made on the taste of the wine.  My other half tasted both glasses without knowing which had been poured through the aerator and commented that one (the aerated one) tasted significantly better, less heavy, like it had breathed.  Interesting, so breathing does make a difference to your wines.
 

A most delicious wine, thoroughly enjoyed!

Our wine notes...

WINE:  Diemersfontein Pinotage
VINTAGE: 2012
PRODUCER:  Diemersfontein 
REGION & COUNTRY: Wellington, Western Cape
GRAPE VARIETY:  PinotageBOUGHT: At the farm
PLACE TASTED: A birthday present paired with an anniversary celebration.  Enjoyed at home with a gourmet meal of KFC and some homemade bread (Nigella style).


APPEARANCE: A dark red, almost purple colour.
NOSE:  Earthy and fruity.  Coffee beans.
TASTE:  It has the smoothness of a blend, it is fruity with an edge and not too earthy.  It has a subtle coffee flavour when you are drinking it, but none of the bitterness.
FINISH: A slight dark chocolate, like 85% Lindt dark chocolate finish.  A smooth and soft finish. 
OVERALL IMPRESSION:  Excellent! It is actually quite reasonably priced considering the quality.  There is a reason this wine is so well known, it is definitely the best Pinotage we have had, in a league of its own. (And it won't break the bank).  A well rounded delicious wine!
OVERALL VALUE: 4 out of 5




Bottle Quote:
"The original coffee chocolate Pinotage in its 12th Vintage - It befriends, it converts, it seduces!"


Diemersfontein Wine Estate
The farm is along the R301 between Paarl and Wellington, on the right hand side.
WGS84: S 33 39 33.7 E 19 00 15.8Tel: +27 21 864 5050