Learn More About This Product
Taste Notes
Primary Notes: Blackberries, Black Cherry, Cassis Fig Mint Cinnamon, Cloves, Violets, Graphite
Secondary Notes:
Tertiary Notes: ApricotLeather, Potpurri
Wine Structure
Body: Medium
Dryness: Dry
Acidity: Light
Tannin:
Alcohol (%): 14.27
Origin & Awards
Origin: Elgin Valley, South Africa
Maker: Spioenkop
Grape: Pinotage
Fermentation: Biodynamic Heavy Wood
Awards:
Serving Recommendations
Decanting: > 1 hour
Serving Temperature: Best enjoyed at 16-18 Degrees
Asian Food Pairing: Lamb kebab, Torched teriyaki beef cubes, Yakitori
Western Food Pairing: Steak and Red Meats, portobello mushroom burger
Description
Spioenkop Pinotage
Dark-ruby and purple colour. The nose offers an intense introduction of graphite minerals and violet florals, before opening up to generous red forest fruit. On the palate, flavours of wild raspberries, fresh red cherries. This is a medium-bodied elegant style of Pinotage with a nice dense, pure and wonderful acidity. A nice satin texture finishes this wine which can be drunk up to 15 years.
The winery is located in the almost crater-like Elgin Valley, surrounded by a craggy fringe of mountains. The vineyard is never below 200m above sea level and its environment's architecture funnels a cool breeze from the Atlantic a few kilometres away. The vines grow in steep west facing slopes with sandstone, shale and light clay soils. Due to the climate and steep inclines in the valley, there is a good flow of rainwater through the soils and shales, which are characterised by fossils and mineral deposits. The vines are planted close together within each row to encourage low yields, and Koen's philosophy is that: “Competition with their neighbours helps the vines to stay healthy and results in wines that have a deep colour and matching complexity.”

AWARDS & ACCOLADES


The estate Pinotage is the jewel in the crown of Spioenkop. This wine has helped define the new style of Pinotage in South Africa whereby winemakers have taken their cues from the great wines of Burgundy, rather than Bordeaux. The logic being that Pinotage is descended from Pinot Noir, so it should be made in that way. This results in grapes that are generally picked earlier, with higher natural acidity and perhaps a slightly lower potential alcohol. The wine is not heavily extracted in the winery (working the skins via punch-downs and pump-overs), this leaves room in the wine for the lighter, more perfumed, elegant side of Pinotage to come to the fore. Superb wine.
