Bowwood Pinotage at the WoSA Intrepid Tasting

To London, and Tobacco Dock for the Intrepid South Africa tasting. WoSA put on this years show in the transformed old warehouse on the banks of the Thames after  Chile and Argentina pulled out of the co-operation of previous years in combining tastings.

London was undergoing an unexpected heatwave with very high humidity and the hall’s air-conditioning struggled to cope with the mass of exhibitors and visitors. Wines at first were too warm but soon bags after bags of ice were brought in and wines both red and white cooled.

As well as 94 stands, many hosting two wineries were 9 themed tasting stands holding 18 bottles manned at different times by winemakers. These tables also included some non-SA wines “highlighting South Africa’s confidence in producing world class wines, while demonstrating that South Africa has honed its own style and identity.”

The Pinotage stand was hosted by Anthony Hamilton-Russell, an enthusiastic Pinotage advocate and owner of Pinotage producing Southern Right and Ashbourne, as well as Hamilton-Russell Vineyards.  Anthony was his usual very dapper self in an immaculate tweed jacket despite the heat. He was partnered by winemaker Danie Steyler Jr from the first rate Pinotage producing Kaapzicht estate.

The wines on show on ‘Driven by History’ Pinotage stand were

• Tormentino Bush Vine 2014
• Spionkop 1900 2014
• David & Nadia 2015
• Bellingham Bernard Series 2014
• Lyngrove Platinum 2014
• Ashbourne 2009
• Southern Right 2015
• Spier 21 Gables 2013
• Bowwood 2014
• Beaumont 2013
• Flagstone Writers Block 2013
• Simonsig Redhill 2013
• Kaapzicht Steytler 2012
• Neethingof Owl Post 2014
• Diemersdal Reserve 2015 

The non SA, non-Pinotage, wines were

• Clos Saron Blue Cheer Cinsaut/Carignan 2014 (USA)
• Niepoort Vertente 2013, (Douro, Portugal)
• La Crema Pinot Noir 2013 (Sonoma, USA)

Bowwood is a name new to me. It was produced at Vondeling by its winemaker Matthew Copeland with the assistance, for this maiden vintage, of Pinotage perfectionist Bruce Jack. 

 

Matthew Copeland, Bowwood Winemaker

Matthew (above) was also at the stand and he told me that just the wine hasn’t yet been released and this bottle he'd carried from the Cape in his baggage

Bowwood 2004 has a fruity nose redolent of blackberries. It is soft on the front palate developing a really lip smacking spiciness on the finish with a refreshing little lift of acidity. Very tasty wine, definitly worth looking out for it - yet only 5 barrels were made so you'd better be fast!

Outside three food stands offered a choice of barbecued boerewors or a healthy mixed salad but I settled on a Cape Malay mutton and banana curry served as bunny chow in a hollowed out bun, accompanied by a bush mint and Table Mountain lemon yoghurt.

The essential accompanying glass of Pinotage came from the tasting room.

Then back into the fray……