Wine of the Week!

Kanonkop Pinotage 2003   $45        

This week we’re traveling to South Africa to enjoy our wine of the week…Kanonkop Pinotage 2003. 

This is a wine that has the silky fruit flavors of Pinot Noir captured along with the dark pluminess of Cinsault, a grape found in many French wines from the Rhone Valley. 

But the Kanonkop is not a blended wine.  Pinotage is a true hybrid of those grapes created in South Africa and it’s an intriguing flavor combination that’s really good with roasted meats and hearty stews because its wine with character and structure.

Both the acidity and tannins that make matching it with meats a natural. 

Kanonkop is a highly regarded winery that’s been making award winning Pinotage for years.  Now we’re seeing even greater availability in the US and it’s especially easy to find and buy online. 

The Kanonkop Pinotage 2003 is about twenty five dollars and is a terrific introduction to the wines of South Africa and a whole new culture of wine experiences. 

Pop the Cork™.

Wine on the Radio - November 3, 2006

Comments & Winemaker's Notes: 
A delicious rendition of the varietal with plump red berry fruit and soft, silky tannins.

"Flashy, modern style, with lots of blueberry and boysenberry fruit layered with sweet mocha and toast notes. Long, fruit-filled finish is very polished. A big change in style for this Pinotage stalwart. Drink now through 2006. 400 cases imported."  89 Points. Wine Spectator

This wine is produced from the estate’s oldest bush vines which are not irrigated. These vines yield a deep color, exuding the flavors of red and black berries, raspberry, plum and banana, which are typical Pinotage. These integrate well with the oak emanating from the new 225 litre French Nevers Vicard barn used to mature the wine for about 16 months. The wine is quite palatable when young, but has the potential for ageing between 20 and 25 years.

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently.  A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list.  Well, don't stop buying it because of that.  In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts . . . first, prices are approximate.  They'll vary.  Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly!  Now, all that said, here is a summary of  links to our suggestions.  Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

Read the fine print . . .

Wine consumption can have positive physical benefits or cause possible physical harm . . . the medical community is divided in some areas.  If you have any doubt, check with your doctor before consuming wine or any other alcoholic drink. 

Our information is well researched.  Recommendations are based on our opinions at the time of publication.  At the same time, recommendations change.  Also, there may be significant variance in taste depending on storage, shipping, and other factors.

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