Enigma - World's First White Pinotage

Just released is Enigma from Mellasat Wines.

It is a white Pinotage, made of 100% Pinotage grapes from the 2008 vintage, barrel fermented and half was then aged in new and second fill oak barrels.

Mellasat's owner-winemaker Stephen Richardson says "whole bunch pressing prevented the juice from obtaining colour from the skins. Barrel fermented and matured for six months with lees stirring gives the wine a slightly creamy, nutty character to balance the tropical fruit and banana flavours. Alcohol 13.5%, residual sugar 2.2 g/litre."

Only 300 cases were made of the 2008 Enigma which retails in the UK for £9.95

Mellasat made a white Pinotage last year which had 15% Chenin blended in, (see here) but since that wine didn't reach the retail market Enigma 2008 takes the record for the worlds first commercially available White Pinotage.

Mellasat 'M' 2003

‘M’ is the flagship wine from Mellasat Vineyards in Paarl. ‘M’'s maiden 2003 vintage is a blend of three assertive varieties, Shiraz, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon. Owner Stephen Richardson, an Englishman who farms in Norfolk, says ‘M’ “brings together the excitement of Shiraz, the uniqueness of Pinotage and the nobility of Cabernet Sauvignon.” With just 21% Pinotage to 64% Shiraz and 15% Cab, it doesn’t meet the standard ‘Cape Blend’ description but it is unlikely you’d find a similar blend elsewhere.

I first tasted this wine when it was released 12 months ago and thought it needed more time and it still seemed very young yesterday.

Mellasat ‘M’ 2003
WO Paarl 13.5% abv
Deep red colour. Initial taste impression is of a sweet softness with youthful berry fruits aplenty. There’s some creamy vanilla flavours and cedar wood on a lingering finish. It is not high in alcohol, but at times tasted a bit hot. I do wish I had kept this
wine for a few more years, because while it is pleasurable drinking now, I don’t think it is anywhere near its peak and I believe ‘M’ 2003 will mature into a very classy wine.

Mellasat’s intriguing name is an anagram of the first two letters of the Richardson family's first names.

2003 is the current vintage of ‘M’ and it is available in South Africa and the UK; stockist details on the Mellasat website.

Mellasat's Blanc de Noirs Pinotage

Mellasat owner/winemaker Stephen Richardson (pictured right) tells me that he is about to launch a white Pinotage under the name Blanc de Noirs (white from black).

This will be the first commercially released white Pinotage - as far as I know.

What does it taste like? It is quite clear - there's no trace of pink. It offers a crisp dry nose and palate with a refreshing finish and a bit of floral fullness in the mid-palate and tasting it blind I took it for a dry Chenin.

Stephen says that he blended in 15% of Chenin Blanc to round the wine out. It is the style of white wine that I enjoy -- but I can't help remembering that Mellasat used to make a pretty good red Pinotage ... and I think I prefer my Pinno red.

Mellasat Pinotage - Good News / Bad News

Mellasat is another name new to me, and having discovered them I can report that there is good news and bad news.

The good news is that they have made some super Pinotages but the bad news is that are ceasing production -- 2002 was the last -- and are instead using the fruit to meet demand for their succesful flagship Mellasat'M' - a Cape Blend of Shiraz, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mellasat is located in the Klein Drakenstein foothills above Paarl and is owned by the Richardson Family. Owner/winemaker Stephen Richardson is a British farmer from Norfolk, England who purchased Dekkersvlei farm in 1996 and set about restoring its Victorian wine cellar, installing modern equipment and planting red varieties. The name 'Mellasat' is an anagram of the first two letters of each of the family members names.

They have an entry level series named Dekkers Valley and the premium Mellasat range.

I tasted the Mellasat 2001 and 2002 Pinotage (pictured above with some just picked home grown courgettes) over two nights.

2001 Mellasat Pinotage WO Paarl

Incredibly dense black colour, brick rim. Full bodied mature wine with soft mulberry fruit flavours, peppery and with a spicy finish.

2002 Mellasat Pinotage WO Paarl

Dense colour, red rim. Brightberry fruit on front palate, some chocolate and toffee flavours, soft tannins and a really spicy finish.

Our small tasting panel was equally divided between the two wines, half preferring the more restrained integrated mature 2001 and half the fruitier and more acidic 2002.

Both wines had a lot of loose sediment needing careful pouring or decanting. I was impressed with the corks used, top quality 2-inch long polished corks.

It is a real shame that Mellasat have decided not to pursue varietal bottling of their Pinotage. Mature quality Pinotage is not easily found, but stocks of these wines held in the UK are currently on offer; see the website http://www.mellasat.com/