WINEMAKER Abrie Beeslaar

COMPOSITION 100% Pinotage

ORIGIN Simonsberg, Stellenbosch

AGE OF VINES 33- to 68-year-old bush vines

IRRIGATION None – dry land vineyards

SOIL TYPE Decomposed Granite and Hutton

YIELD 5 tons per hectare

AGEING POTENTIAL 10 to 15 years from vintage

PRODUCTION VOLUME 13 000 cases (6 x 750ml)

FOOD PAIRING

Spicy Asian-style dishes | Aromatic curries Venison meat | Seared game fish | Duck

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

2022 was the latest vintage in the past 25 years, about 2 weeks later than normal. We had a proper cold winter with enough rain, that resulted in budbreak that was 2 weeks late. The earlier part of the season was quite cool, with December showing lower maximum and minimum temperatures. January was more moderate with a couple of hot days. We had slow ripening conditions that resulted in concentrated fruit development and palate weight.

WINEMAKING / MATURATION

Fermented in open top concrete fermenters at 28°C. The floating skins were punched down by hand, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured for 18 months in 80% new and 20% second fill 225L French Nevers oak barrels.

TASTING NOTES

Opaque purple red colour. Bold plums, blackberries, mulberries, rich vanilla, layers of smoke, and roasted nut the nose. Followed by a palate packed with plums, cherries, black figs, pomegranate, dark chocolate, blackberries and spicy oak, The beautifully integrated plush, creamy tannins teams with satisfying acidity resulting in a wonderfully balanced wine with and a long finish, promising a great maturation potential.

ALC 14.64% | RS 3.1 g/l | TA 5.7 g/l | pH 3.75 | FREE SO2 40 mg/l | TOTAL SO2 98 mg/l | VA 0.57 g/l