30 November 2019

WoTM - Horton Pinotage 2014 and Rose 2018

My Wines of The Month for November are from Horton Vineyards. Founder Dennis Horton was the Pinotage pioneers on east coast USA.

Horton Vineyards 2014 Orange County is the standard red Pinotage which they've been producing from the variety they first planted in 1993. They have recently introduced a rosé Pinotage.

The 2014 red Pinotage is already showing brown tinges and is lighter in colour than many others. It needs time to open up as it's closed on first pour and so would benefit from decanting.

Then it shows coffee on the nose. This is a thoroughly enjoyable wine with a reasonable 13.7% abv. It has cherry and berry fruits, with some coffee and chocolate flavours. There's enough acidity to encourage another glass.

At the American Wine Society National Conference in the warmth of St Pete Beach, Florida, I opened Horton's newly launched rosé Pinotage with an eye catching label called Gears and Lace from their Steam Punk line of wines. 

Horton Gears and Lace  Rosé Pinotage 2018 was a lovely bright dark pink, darker it seemed, than some Burgundies. On the nose was smoked Gouda, in the mouth we tasted a tang of watermelon. The wine was smooth, refreshing and quite lovely.


10 November 2019

Platter's 2020 5 Star Pinotages

The 2020 edition of Platter's South African Wine Guide has just announced it 5 star wines.

There are six varietal Pinotages and two Cape Blends. 

Beeslaar Pinotage 2017
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2017
Diemersdal Reserve Pinotage 2018
Flagstone Time Manner Place Pinotage 2017 *
Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage 2017


Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2017

Beyerskloof Faith 2015 (Cape Blend) *

Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2017 (Cape Blend)

* indicates the  highest-scoring 5-star wines in their category and chosen as Platter’s Wines of the Year.



Two winemakers each have two wines with the coveted five stars. Abrie Beeslaar (Beeslaar and Kanonkop) and Anri Truter (Beyerskloof).

Congratulations to all involved, and also to the Platter Guide in its 40th annual edition of this invaluable and unique miniature encyclopaedia of South African wine.