WoTM - Sutter Ridge 1996 Pinotage

My Wine of The Month for November is Sutter Ridge 1996.  

When I visited this winery in Amador County long ago it was growing 25 acres of Pinotage, the largest in the USA. I brought this bottle home but kept it too long.

But no, this 26-year-old wine was delicious. Showing the brownness of age, of course, but plenty of sweet fruit. No tannin, and surprisingly little sediment. A beautiful delicate wine.

The winery was pressurised by another winery with a similar name to change its name, but it now appears to have closed.

Platter 5 Star Wines for 2023

 Platter's South African Wine Guide has announced its 5 Star wine for the 2023 Guide. Pinoate 5Stars are:

Beeslaar 2020

De Grendel Amandelboord 2020

Diemersdal Prospect 2020

Francois van Niekerk 2020

illimis 2021

Kaapzicht Steytler 2020

Kanonkop Black Label 2020*

Survivor Reserve 2020

Red Blends, with Pinotage

Beyerskloof Faith 2018*

* = Category Winner

RIP Pat Del-Gatto

Pat Del-Gatto

Very sad news from Ontario. Pat Del-Gatto winemaker/owner of Del-Gatto Estates passed away on 15 Sept 2022 from complications following a stem cell transplant.

His widow, Heidi, tells me

We had wonderful 2020 and 2021 Pinotage vintages - both quickly sold out.

 

He was able to finish his 2021 vintages (as I always helped him with the work) and our kids completed all the bottling spring 2022 while he was in hospital.

See the report of my meeting with Pat when I visited Del-Gatto Estates by clicking here.

www.del-gattoestates.ca