We paid another visit to The Chicago Wine School and its director, Patrick W. Fegan, who makes us all a little smarter about wine.
“. . . Let’s try something new today and head across the world to South Africa.
South Africa produces some wonderful wines. Now all the major varieties are made there but they do put their stamp on the wine world in a unique way. It’s a wine called Pinotage.
Pinotage is a purely South African creation. It’s a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The Pinot Noir gives the wine a bright fruitiness while the Cinsault lays down a layer of earthy backbone.
That’s a unique combination… especially because we don’t see many wines with the ruddy cinsault grape in them.
The most common South African Pinotage regions are Stellenbosch and Paarl… which are home both to some of the larger producers and the more classic estates.
So for a new and different taste of the world, have a taste of South Africa with Pinotage.”
Check out the picks below then . . .
Pop the cork™.
Pinotage from South Africa - Our Picks and Recommendations . . . All Prices Approximate
2002 KWV Pinotage Western Cape $8
Medium-bodied, with chunky earth, prune and baked plum flavors and a bacony finish, all typical for Pinotage
Baobab 2001 Pinotage $10
Winemaker's notes:
Intense brilliant red color, with exuberant ripe fruit flavors of plums, berries, and black cherries. Just a touch of oak adds spice, vanilla, and complexity
1999 Cloof Pinotage Gronekloof $18
Rustic nose, Deep ruby/ Purple color. Smokey with loads of black fruit flavors. Full bodied stuff
Warwick Estate 2003 Pinotage $18
Winemaker's notes:
This wine has a plum garnet color with a complexity of fruits on the nose. A lively Pinotage sweetness balanced by careful wood ageing, plenty of ripe fruit and a spicy finish. The wine is big, yet accessible and will probably age very well
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