Absa Pinotage Top 10 2020
These are the judges' descriptions of this years winning wines. The wines were tasted blind over three days. The judges' notes were then collated and written by Dr Winnie Bowman CWM, the panel convenor of Tsogo Sun, sommelier Georgio Meletiou, Spier cellarmaster Frans Smit, wine writer Fiona McDonald and viticulturist Solly Monyanane.
Aan de Doorns Wynkelder
Aan de Doorns Pinotage 2018
Winemakers: Chris van Deventer & Chris Geldenhuys
Spice sheen, with a fresh herbal touch to red and black fruit. Bright vivacious with good grip, lovely ripeness and expression. Complex with good length and a smooth cocoa farewell.
Anura Vineyards
Anura Signature Pinotage 2017
Winemaker: Stander Maass
Ribena, nutty spicy Autumn leaf overlay on blue/black fruit. Lovely waxy, creamy mouthfeel with good structure, concentration and length.
Beyerskloof Wyne
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2017
Winemaker: Anri Truter
Granola nuttiness to red/blue fruit. Similar nutty nuance plum/cherry palate. Good structure, yet lithe and supple with of life and interest. Good concentration and depth and long, spicy tail completes the picture. Structured and refined with deceptive concentration.
Conradie Penhill Wines
Conradie Family Vineyards Pinotage 2019
Winemaker:C P Conradie
Spicy macerated dark fruits. Deep and inviting. Statuesque. Beautifully balanced mouthful of juicy dark fruit, spice and gently supportive frame of oak. Refined, has a regal presence and well made.
Delheim Wines
Vera Cruz Pinotage 2016
Winemaker: Roelof Lotriet
Subtle spice and tealeaf, good raspberry fruit expression – dark, dense and concentrated. Nice squeeze of dry, fine tannin. Good length, succulence and body, well-integrated. Maturing nicely.
Diemersdal Wynlandgoed
Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage 2018
Winemaker: Thys Louw
Pure blueberry, violet and rhubarb appeal. Rounded and rich, broad fruit and spice palate. Good breadth and texture. Balanced ripeness, well-judged spice and oak platform. Well made, suave and genteel.
Durbanville Hills
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Pinotage 2017
Winemaker: Wilhelm Coetzee
Bold spice and lavender highlight to macerated red/cherry fruit and plums. Genteel, suave and smooth entry. Rounded and sleek with a toned and lithe palate. Fruit is nicely ripe with well-integrated oak frame. Good length and elegance. Complex.
Kaapzicht Wine Estate
Kaapzicht Pinotage 2018
Winemaker: Danie Steytler
Plum, spice with a cigar leaf edge. Light cherry lollipop overlay with succulence, squeeze of ripe tannin and a herb-tinged finish. Refined and very well-made. A delight!
Pulpit Rock Winery
Brink Family Vineyards Pinotage 2018
Winemaker: Dewald Huisamen
Perfumed sweet appeal, lavender and blueberry with a brush of cocoa. Rounded, ripe and succulent entry with well-defined palate with beginning, middle and end. Ripe fleshy blue and red fruit, cocoa notes and deep dark intensity. Elegant and nuanced with a refined tail. Smart wine.
Windmeul Kelder
The Legend Collection Pinotage 2018
Winemaker: Abraham van Heerden
Rounded, structured with abundant red and blue fruit mingling with powdery cocoa and smooth creamy milk chocolate. Spice and herb complexity add depth and dimension, cohesive and well made.
My thanks to Dr Winnie Bowman CWM for use of the notes.