31 December 2015
WoTM - SAAM Mountain Vineyards Pinotage 2013
My Wine of The Month for December 2015 is SAAM Mountain Vineyards
Pinotage 2013.
I often choose it at Chez Mumtaj which features French-Asian fusion cooking by talented owner-chef
Chad Rahman. But no more.
I visited this month with
a group of friends and asked for a bottle of the Saam Pinotage before seeing the
wine list. It wasn’t too long before we requested another bottle but the wine
menu no longer had Saam. The waiter told us that there were only three more
bottles in the cellar. We took that as a challenge and there were none left in
the cellar when we departed.
We were told their supplier no longer listed Saam,
which surprised me as Bibendum (one
the UK's biggest wine companies) is their supplier and Saam was a joint
project between Bibendum on the marketing and distribution side, and Perdeberg Winery on the
production, as I wrote here.
Saam Pinotage was an excellent
pairing with Chez Mumtaj’s innovative cuisine. Opaque almost black in the dim
restaurant light, with a berry nose and restrained dense blackberry flavours.
There’s spice and that inherent Pinotage sweetness that goes so well with spicy
food, also soft tannins to give body and a good length.
Farewell Saam…
17 December 2015
Wine Enthusiast Picks Lovingston Pinotage
Wine Enthusiast’s tasting team
were asked to recommend American wines to have with Thanksgiving.
Alexander
Peartree, Assistant Tasting Director, chose Lovingston’s 2013 Gilbert’s
Vineyard Pinotage from Virginia, which he says “seamlessly balances racy
red-fruit tones with savory herbs and smoky game. It’s easy to pair alongside
the cornucopia of dishes on the table, yet it also lends an exotic kick to an
otherwise traditional affair.”
Read the article here.
.
14 December 2015
After 25 Years Dave Eckert Gets Pinotage
Dave Eckert didn’t take to
Pinotage when he first tasted it in the 1980’s. But now he’s found three that
impress enough to feature on his Thanksgiving table.
“Now I know why they created
Pinotage all those years ago. It’s just took me 25 years and three new
bottlings to figure it out,” he writes in the Kansas City Star.
The three are Kanonkop, Simonsig and
Stellar, although the article doesn’t mention their vintages.
Dave Eckert is the producer and
host of “Culinary Travels With Dave Eckert,” shown on USA's PBS-TV and Wealth
TV for 12 seasons.
Read the article here
30 November 2015
WoTM - Anura Pinotage Reserve 2011
My Wine of the Month for November 2015 is Anura Pinotage
Reserve 2011, a very satisfying classic Pinotage with a fine sturdy core, sweet
berry fruit edge and just a trace of mocha.
Anura is a bit off my radar, they don’t seem to be available in the UK so they’re not the first producer
that comes to mind when I think Pinotage, but I’ve enjoyed the few I’ve encountered and they have always impressed. I’ll get some more when I’m in the Cape in a couple of months time.
I wasn’t the only one to be impressed with this vintage, as
it was a worthy Top 10 winner in 2013.
28 November 2015
Kanonkop Sweeps IWSC Trophies
Kanonkop Estate was the toast of the IWSC Awards Banquet held on Thursday evening 26 November 2015 in the splendour of London's Guildhall.
Kanonkop won three Trophys
IWSC says
Black Label Pinotage 2010, Pinotage 2012 and Black Label Pinotage 2012 all received Gold Outstanding medals, but the judges selected the Pinotage 2012 for the Pinotage Trophy.
I tasted all three at the event and the Trophy winner was immediately beguilingly attractive and I think that gave it the edge. The two Black Labels were tighter and more closed, presumably having been made for longer keeping with a higher proportion of new oak.
The 2012 Black Label had 18 months in 100% new oak barrels, and the 2010 16 months in 100% new oak barrels, the 2102 Pinotage had 16 months in 75% new and 25% second fill barrels.
Kanonkop won three Trophys
- Abraham Perold Pinotage Trophy for the 2012 Pinotage, sponsored by The Pinotage Association
- Abrie Beeslaar won Winemaker of the Year Trophy 2015. This is the second time Abrie has won.
- Kanonkop Estate won South African Wine Producer of the Year Trophy
IWSC says
The prestigious, Winemaker of the Year 2015 is Abrie Beeslaar, who has been recognised for his work at Kanonkop Wine Estate, South Africa. Having received the award previously in 2008, Abrie is taking his favourite grape, Pinotage, to new realms of quality - striving for balance structure and elegance.
Black Label Pinotage 2010, Pinotage 2012 and Black Label Pinotage 2012 all received Gold Outstanding medals, but the judges selected the Pinotage 2012 for the Pinotage Trophy.
I tasted all three at the event and the Trophy winner was immediately beguilingly attractive and I think that gave it the edge. The two Black Labels were tighter and more closed, presumably having been made for longer keeping with a higher proportion of new oak.
The 2012 Black Label had 18 months in 100% new oak barrels, and the 2010 16 months in 100% new oak barrels, the 2102 Pinotage had 16 months in 75% new and 25% second fill barrels.
Citation for Kanonkop Pinotage 2012 |
Abrie Beeslaar accepts the Abraham Perold Pinotage Trophy from Peter May representing the Pinotage Association |
Deidre Taylor, Kanonkop Brand Manager, accepts the Abraham Perold Pinotage Trophy from Peter May representing the Pinotage Association |
04 November 2015
Grinder Pinotage wins
Sommelier Mark Cochrane held a tasting for The Millstone, Ontario, newspaper comparing "the traditional wines made with 'South African signature grapes' against the new style of wines being planted in South Africa."
Chenin blanc and Pinotage in Team Tradition competed against Team Newbies' Sauvignon blanc and 60/40 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Result? "The overwhelming preference was for the older style wines like Pinotage and Chenin Blanc which demonstrates that some wines can stand the test of time."
But not too old style for the red as the Pinotage was The Grinder, one of the new fashioned 'coffee/chocolate' wines.
Mark bought the wines from Ontario's monopoly LCBO and it seems someone there really likes that style as they form half the 8 varietals available!
Read the full report in The Millstone from Mississippi Mills Ontario, Canada.
.
Chenin blanc and Pinotage in Team Tradition competed against Team Newbies' Sauvignon blanc and 60/40 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Result? "The overwhelming preference was for the older style wines like Pinotage and Chenin Blanc which demonstrates that some wines can stand the test of time."
But not too old style for the red as the Pinotage was The Grinder, one of the new fashioned 'coffee/chocolate' wines.
Mark bought the wines from Ontario's monopoly LCBO and it seems someone there really likes that style as they form half the 8 varietals available!
Read the full report in The Millstone from Mississippi Mills Ontario, Canada.
.
31 October 2015
WoTM - Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2010
Frans Smit and his team are producing some excellent wines
at Spier. Premium range ’21 Gables’ is the bees’ knees where Pinotage is
concerned.
This beauty from the 2010 vintage is my Wine of The Month
for October 2015. It is lusciously silky and mouth filling with a rich
intensity of fruit and soft supple tannins.
It was a Pinotage Top 10 winner in 2012. Hand sorted, aged 18 months and a barrel selection.
30 October 2015
5 Platter Stars for 4 Pinotages
Just four varietal Pinotage's gained 5 Stars in Platter's 2016 South African Wine Guide. They are
Beeslaar Wines Pinotage 2013
Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2011
Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2013
Windmeul Cellar Pinotage 2014
And I spotted only one Cape Blend, Kaapzicht Wine Estate Vision 2012
There are 83 5 Star winners.
See the full list at https://outofthepress.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/platter-2016-revealed-2/
Congrats to all..
Beeslaar Wines Pinotage 2013
Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2011
Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2013
Windmeul Cellar Pinotage 2014
And I spotted only one Cape Blend, Kaapzicht Wine Estate Vision 2012
There are 83 5 Star winners.
See the full list at https://outofthepress.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/platter-2016-revealed-2/
Congrats to all..
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