30 April 2016

WoTM Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2012


My Wine of The Month for April 2016 is Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2012.

I've enjoyed some cracking wines from Lyngrove, but I regret the winery is below my radar. I've never visited them, something I must rectify on my next visit to the Cape.

The 2012 was a Pinotage Top 10 Winner in 2013. The last time I tasted it was in 2014 and  I think the wine now is even better and 'a point'.

It has a lovely dark colour with a hint of cedarwood on the nose. In the mouth it is soft with integrated sweet fruit and a tangy finish. 

Fifteen months of  aging in 40% new French oak barrels adds support without dominating. This is a  beautiful elegant wine.

Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage, 2012
ABV: 14.5%
Blend: 100% Pinotage
Region: Stellenbosch
Winemaker: Danielle le Roux 


06 April 2016

Neetlingshof Pinotages separated by 30 years

Christian Eedes, at WineMag.co.za tasted two Pinotages from Neethlingshof with 30 years between them.

The 2014 Owl Post Pinotage had 'lavender and incense, vanilla and spice before red and black fruit' with 'a marmalade quality'  from Hungarian oak. See full review here.

For the 1984 Neethlingshof  Pinotage Christian found

'red and black cherry plus some floral perfume to go with more mature notes of leather, earth and spice. The palate meanwhile was pristine, the fruit still amazingly vibrant and intact.'
See full review here

05 April 2016

South African sparkling wine ... in Santa Cruz?

Mary Orlin, of San Jose Mercury News, was keen to quiz Loma Prieta owner/winemaker Paul Kemp about his new sparkling wine and find out about "Kemp's pinotage obsession".

Read the interview here.

From Loma Prieat Vineyard live video feed
 

01 April 2016

Amazing Pinotage and Pumpkin Cup Cake Pairing

"My favourite hands down was the pairing of the Pinotage and pumpkin," writes Nidha Narrandes of Johannesburg's Sunday World who visited Delheim Wines in Stellenbosch for a wine and cupcake  pairing.



The four pairs were
  • Pinotage rosé  with pomegranate cupcake.
  • Chenin Blanc Wild Ferment with a Rooibos cupcake infused with lemon, topped with a cream cheese and honey icing
  • Pinotage with a Pumpkin & vanilla cupcake infused with star anise, cinnamon and nutmeg,  topped with diced pickled pumpkin.
  • Gewurztraminer wine  with the traditional African Makataan cupcake, festooned with makataan (wild melon) syrup icing.



"The spicy pumpkin cupcake picked up every tone from the Pinotage and they waltzed together, an elegant taste. It is an amazing experience to try something unheard off and enjoy it that much", says Nidha.

Full report is here

Delheim say their Cupcake & Wine Pairing is on offer seven days a week at the cellardoor, between 9h00 and 16h30. Cupcakes are freshly baked each day and quantities are based upon  bookings which need to be made 24 hours in advance, details are here