So, two nights ago Wine Times headed to the
biggest South African tasting the city has held for a long time “Taste The
World: South Africa” and we thought it would be nice to investigate the range
of Pinotage wines there were available. It’s no secret we here are big fans of
South African whites, especially Chenin Blanc, but the much maligned Pinotage
never really gets much attention from those outside of its country of origin.
We have tried a fair amount of South African
wines this year, some with Western food and some with Chinese food and it must
be said that the wines themselves are very versatile and are equipped to match
most food styles. Recently we have paired Beaumont wines from Swartland with
Chinese food namely their outstanding Pinotage with Cantonese Hot Pot and their
Chenin Blanc last week with our Michelin Starred Dai Pai Dong dinner – both wines
are terrific.
So, at the South African tasting we searched
all the Pinotage that was there to let you know our favourites so that if you
get in the mood for a South African wine one thirsty day, you will have a point
of reference from which to choose a good wine from. Also, this is one of the
final stories on full bodied reds we will be writing as summer is fast closing
in and it will get a little too hot (for us anyway) to be drinking this styles
of wine.
Pinotage is a true South African grape, created
in South Africa’s Stellenbosch University by Professor Abraham Izak Perold in
1925. He created the grape variety by crossing the Cinsault grape with the Pinot
Noir grape in an attempt to make a delicately robust wine itself and to allow
the Pinot Noir grape to have a little more sturdiness than it usually does;
Pinot Noir is a fickle and often hard grape to grow. The grape creates wines
with a great depth in colour and wines that have the ability to be drunk young,
but also to mature and age in the bottle.
Opinion on the grape is often divided, not only
between wine lovers around the world but also amongst winemakers and wine
drinkers in South Africa. It’s one of those grapes you either love or hate,
with many South African’s proud of their own, self-made grape variety and
others condemning it, saying that there is no place for a grape like that on a
vineyard. Either way, it’s hard to judge a grape variety without having tried
it so here are our favourites from the night…..
Hamilton Russell Southern Right Pinotage 2009
(Edrington Hong Kong – Tel: 2831-7222 sales@edrington.com.hk)
- Definitely my favourite of the night, smooth on
the palate with lovely fresh flavours, drinking very well right now – bargain.
Bellingham “The Bernard Series” Bush Vine Pinotage
2011 (Wine N Things Tel: 2873-5733 www.winenthingshk.com
wine@winenthingshk.com )
- Came a close second, this wine is very nice,
big flavours and high concentration, a meaty wine that would do very well with
food.
African Anthology Lesebo Pinotage 2008 (Solar
Max Limited – Tel: 2554-1183 order@solarmaxlimited.com.hk)
- Loads of cherry flavours with a super-long
finish and lovely velvety palate feel.
Ayama Pinotage (Slent Farms – Tel: 5646-8850 chen@slentfarms.com)
- Easy-going medium bodied wine with subtle
tannin and red fruit on the palate, easy drinking, and accessible wine.
Fairview Primo Pinotage 2008 (Summergate Fine Wines
– Tel: 2545-4100 wing.kiang@summergate.com)
- Nice simple wine that can drink well on its own
but would be a great wine for BBQ’s or just for that glass of red wine after a
hard day’s work!
Spier 21 Gables Private Collection Pinotage
2010 (Grape Vine Imports – Tel: 2791-6363 grapevinetastings@gmail.com)
- Full bodied savoury wine with plenty of cherry
flavours. Quite delicate wine but with a long finish and pleasant mouthfeel.
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