30 September 2020

WoTM - Flagstone Time.Manner.Place Pinotage 2012

My Wine of the Month for September is Flagstone Time.Manner.Place Pinotage 2012 W.O. Breedekloof



This was the only bottle I have had, or even seen, of this iconic wine, which I bought at the winery. When the the wine was launched in 2012 with the 2010 vintage, Flagstone owner Bruce Jack told The Drinks Busines


“My aim is to make the best wine in the world from Pinotage

 This won’t be a wine we produce every year, only in years we deem good enough.” 


At eight years old, this wine was exquisite with great quality and finesse. 


Time.Manner.Place comes from the same Silkbush Mountain Vineyard in the Breede River Valley, roughly midway between Worcester and Tulbagh as Flagstone's Writers Block. 



The Pinotage is planted at the highest point of the farm, 730 metres on the upper corner of the hillside.(arrowed in above picture) Mountains rise steeply beyond; one of them is Sybasberg which translates as Silkbush Mountain and gives its name to the farm. 


Grapes were berry selected by hand and fermented in new barrels, the cap manually pushed down every four hours. The final wine is the result of a barrel selection.


Bruce Jack wrote this haiku about pressing the wine:


Universal light
Pressed into dark purple wine
Reflect far-flung stars




23 September 2020

Winners: 2020 Cape Blend and Pinotage Rose Competition

 Winners of the 2020 ABSA Perold Cape Blend and the Pinotage Rose Competition are:



WINNERS -  2020 PEROLD/ABSA CAPE BLEND COMPETITION


KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2017

WO Coastal: Winemaker -Izele van Blerk


Rijk’s Pinotage/Syrah 2015

WO Tulbagh: Winemaker – Pierre Wahl


Stellenbosch Hills Suikerboschrand Cape Blend 2015

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – James Ochse


Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2017

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – JD Pretorius


Wellington Wines – La Cave Cape Blend 2018

WO Wellington: Winemaker – Francois van Niekerk 



WINNERS – 2020 PINOTAGE ROSE COMPETITION: 

 


Bon Courage Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé 

WO Robertson: Winemaker -Jacques Bruwer


De Krans Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Western Cape: Winemaker – Christoff de Wet


Merwida Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Western Cape: Winemaker – Magnus Kriel


Painted Wolf Ros Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Paarl: Winemaker – Jeremy Borg


Florence by Aaldering Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – Reinard Odendaal

 

 


14 September 2020

Finalists: Cape Bend and Rose 2020

Finalists for the 2020 ABSA Perold Cape Blend and the Pinotage Rose Competition have been announced:



FINALISTS -  2020 PEROLD/ABSA CAPE BLEND COMPETITION

Anura Signature Cape Cuveé 2017

WO Simonsberg-Paarl: Winemaker -Stander Maass


Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2018

WO Western Cape: Winemaker – Gerhard Swart


KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2017

WO Coastal: Winemaker -Izele van Blerk


KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2018

WO Coastal: Winemaker -Izele van Blerk


Lyngrove Platinum Latitude 2017

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – Danie van Tonder


Rijk’s Pinotage/Syrah 2015

WO Tulbagh: Winemaker – Pierre Wahl


Stellenbosch Hills Suikerboschrand Cape Blend 2015

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – James Ochse


Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Cape Blend 2018

WO Robertson: Winemaker – Fred Viljoen


Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2017

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – JD Pretorius


Wellington Wines – La Cave Cape Blend 2018

WO Wellington: Winemaker – Francois van Niekerk 


FINALISTS– 2020 PINOTAGE ROSE COMPETITION: 

 


Bon Courage Lady of the HousePintage Rosé 

WO Robertson: Winemaker -Jacques Bruwer


De Krans Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Western Cape: Winemaker – Christoff de Wet


Merwida Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Western Cape: Winemaker – Magnus Kriel


Painted Wolf Ros Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Paarl: Winemaker – Jeremy Borg


Florence by Aaldering Pinotage Rosé 2020 

WO Stellenbosch: Winemaker – Reinard Odendaal

 

 

This year’s winners will be announced on the 22nd of September 2020.