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31 December 2020

WoTM Kanonkop Estate Pinotage 2015

 My Wine of the Month for December is Kanonkop Estate Pinotage 2005.


We enjoyed this on Christmas Day with roast turkey, roast parsnip and potatoes, steamed brussels sprouts, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage, sage & onion stuffing balls and Yorkshire pudding.


I had the 2010 and 2000 vintages ready as we had planned for wine, and Pinotage, loving family to join us, but a late change to Covid rules meant we dined on our own. 


The 2015 was at a perfect stage, with everything in balance and plenty of fruit. Smooth and delicious, we look forward to a happier time in 2021 when we will open another bottle of it and then the older ones for our guest.


Goodbye 2020....




23 December 2020

Meerendal Pinotage Tasting Menu

 Meerendal's Restaurant, Il Tesoro, is serving a five course Pinotage Wine Pairing Dinner on Thursdays. They say booking is essential; phone number is on the website here




Video - Meerendal Winemaker Tastes Pinotage


Meerendal winemaker Thys Smit (above) tastes Meerendal Estate Pinotage in this short video.



The vintage is not identified and the label not clearly shown, so seems to be a generic description of the wine style rather than specific.




13 December 2020

Jancis Chooses Springfontein Pinotage for Xmas

 Jancis Robinson MW's list of recommended Christmas wines includes one Pinotage.


She says  

These celebratory reds  ...... should deliver pleasure and relative value. Even the 15 percenters taste well balanced and appetising


Springfontein, Terroir Selection Pinotage 2016 Walker Bay, South Africa 15%

Very sweet and vital ..... amazingly well balanced. A very superior Pinotage.


First published in her column in The Financial Times and available in full on her website.  



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07 December 2020

Loma Prieta Sold

Loma Prieta Winery, California's largest Pinotage producer, has new owners.



Loma Prieta was founded by Paul and Amy Kemp in 2000. Paul soon fell in love with Pinotage, grafting all his estate Cabernet, Merlot and eventually Pinot Noir vines to Pinotage and leasing Pinotage vineyards on other parts of the State. 


Paul made three vineyard specific Pinotages, Amorosa and Karma Vineyards in Lodi and Sierra Ridge Vineyard in Suttervillein addition to his estate Pinotage, and was the first anywhere to produce a sparkling white Pinotage, which was made by the traditional method.


Paul Kemp died on 1 July 2018.


Loma Prieta has been bought by Chris Arriaga, a real estate developer and former U.S. Marshal. He and his daughter, Samantha, both residents of Saratoga, will continue to operate the winery under its existing name, retaining all staff, reports The San Jose Mercury News.  


Full Story here