Kanonkop 2006 - Tasting Good

Kanonkop owner Johann Krige (pictured right) was pouring the newly released 2006 vintages of Pinotage and Kadette Cape Blend at last months London International Wine Fair.

Kanonkop have the most detailed labels in the Cape – although USA labelling requirements unfortunately means consumers there don’t get the useful maturation chart on the back label, so as a service to them I am showing the labels below.

Kanonkop Pinotage 2006
Just bottled, but I’m thinking this is showing all the signs of being another cracker. It is elegant, showing restrained berry fruits, balanced by tannins and fruit acids.

Kanonkop Kadette 2006
A classic Cape Blend of three Bordeaux varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon (32%) & Franc (9%), and Merlot (20%) - married to 39% Pinotage. It is immediately attractive, with ripe fruits, sweet blueberry and raspberry flavours, really enjoyable easy drinking. Johann says “it has sweet accessibility from Pinotage that you can’t get from Cabernet Sauvignon, but without getting too fruity".

Back label from Kanonkop 2006 Pinotage. Note the 'Estate Wine of Origin' appellation, showing all the grapes were grown on the estate, the wine made matured and bottled on the Estate.



Back label from Kanonkop 2006 Kadette Cape Blend. Note the 'Wine of Origin' appellation, showing that is is not an Estate wine. Some of the grapes would have come from vineyards outside the Estate boundaries.