I have never had the opportunity to taste a Pinotage before. I have to say I don’t recall ever hearing about it either. Wow, I have been missing out on a wonderful wine. At first pour, this is a beautiful deep ruby colored wine. It has wonderful aromas of blackberry, black cherry, plum and oak but don’t go thinking this is yet another Pinot. This wine is incredibly complex with delightful flavors hidden from your first taste but waiting for you to discover them with subsequent sips. Luscious vanilla, cedar, dark chocolate, and tobacco are just flavors waiting for you.
The Pinotage that impressed? 2006 Fort Ross Vineyard, Sonoma Coast Marcia marks it 5/5 and says "I think I would invest in two cases – yes, it’s that good."
It's Doolhof Dark Lady of the Night 201, Wellington Pinotage that gets 5/5 at Sipping Sediments
Holy Mother of Macaroni, forgive me, for I have sinned. Numerous times, with numerous glasses. This is by far my favorite discovery this year.
The aroma? Once you open this sucker and let it breathe(this time, because I was cleaning under the kitchen sinks and the upper cabinets, it was closer to two hours), oh my, what a glorious aroma. Right off the bat, you can smell the richness of the wine. I’m not kidding when I tell you I swear I smelled coffee or some mocha(various investigation on Snooth.com shows it is indeed espresso I was smelling. I’m NOT insane!). Of course, being a coffee-holic, I’m sold right there. But oh, no, my friends, the festivities were only beginning.
The taste? Superb! Boysenberry, Chocolate, Espresso, Plum, and a multiple of others that many more bottles of imbibement(is that a word? wordsmiths, help!) will no doubt help me solve eventually. It’s an elegant finish. Meaning, with all of these flavors co-habitating, you would expect a lot of deep flavor. it is there, but it’s not overpowering. I have had pinotage that was too much going on all at once. This is, happily, not the case here. It’s so smooth, that it’s not odd that you suddenly discover several glasses have been consumed.
That was not a confession. That was a revelation.
McNab Ridge “Napoli Vineyard” 2010, Mendocino County Pinotage impresses Joe Dolce at Dolce Drinks
The wine is full on the palate and powerful at 14.4% alcohol. In the glass it just oozes raspberry fruit, showing on both the nose and palate. It is surrounded by soft touches of vanilla and wood spice with a somewhat creamy mouth-feel. The wine has dusty, coco-powder like tannins that are firm but approachable.
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