Kanonkop Pinotage 2023

Fermented in open top concrete fermenters at 280C. The floating skins were punched down by hand, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured for 16 months in 80% new and 20% second fill 225L French Nevers oak barrels"

"The carry-over effect of the previous three year’s drought was still visible in this vintage, despite the higher rainfall during the season, and it delivered a smaller crop, but of high quality. Despite the relative low water stress, the cool weather contributed to smaller berries, and less irrigation was needed in this growing season."

This wine drinks well now, however, it can age beautifully for a further ten to fifteen years from vintage.

Pinotage

This wine pairs well with spicy Asian-style dishes, aromatic curries, venison meat, seared game fish and duck.

Neal Martin – 89 points

Kanonkop Wine Estate is situated in Stellenbosch, the premium red wine region of South Africa’s Western Cape Province. To many, Kanonkop is considered to be the South African equivalent of a Premier Cru or First Growth. For others, Kanonkop is not just a wine estate. It is a place of natural beauty where hospitality, family values, tradition, history and interesting characters are as integral to our ability to create magnificent wines as the ancient decomposed granite soils, the cool air from the Atlantic Ocean and the old dry land vineyards.