Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2021

The grapes were harvested by hand at an average of 25.2° balling from late February to early March with a yield of 18 tons per hectare. Fermentation in rotation tanks took place at 22° to 25°C over seven days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured in a combination of French (60%) and American (40%) oak, with 40% in new barrels for a period of 7 months. First bottling took place on the 19 January 2022, total of 27 833 bottles were produced.

Grapes were sourced from 22-year-old south-east facing vineyards. Grafted onto Richter 110 rootstock and grown in deep red soil at 125 m above sea level, the vines are trellised on a four-wire vertical hedge system and irrigated by means of drip system.

The wine is ready to drink now, but will mature well over the next five to ten years.

Pinotage

Excellent served with red meat dishes and vegetables topped with flavorful sauces such a teriyaki, plum or barbecue sauce. Also pairs well with roasts, beetroot salads, rich cheeses or dark chocolate.

Neethlingshof Estate vine roots stretch back to the earliest years of winemaking at the Cape – grapes were already being produced on the farm by 1705. Despite being steeped in history with its thatched Cape-Dutch homestead and outbuildings it has also remained in the forefront of new trends and developments, and has become a leading exponent of the drive to balance nature and wine-growing in the Western Cape. As a consequence its select range of wines is a telling reflection of what is uniquely Neethlingshof.