Nearly black in complexion showed me that this is a very extracted wine. The nose is somewhat muted but a few swirls in the glass begin to reveal some black cherries and the telltale tar/creosote that makes Pinotage so unique. It is a cross breed of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut only found in South Africa.
The first taste is all I expected. Smoke, bramble and cherry hints are all present. Licorice presents itself halfway through. The wine offers a short burst of tannin followed by that tarry mid palate taste that I really enjoy from this varietal. It has a nice mouthfeel, crossing from the tannic thrust over to a slightly tart acidic finish that carries some earthy components. I like this wine a lot. The 14.5% alcohol is well masked, making this a great pairing with some grilled beef. I would drink this over the next 5 years at the least. 91 points and 4 stars for this $38 offering. Salut….
This can actually last a lot longer: We did a tasting with the winemaker two years ago in Stellenbosch that went down to the 1999 and that wine felt like it was just beginning to open up. Truly stellar expression of Pinotage and the US price point is very close to what is charged at winery. Love the Kanonkops, we have a bunch in the cellar.
That is good to know. This bottle was given to me by a friend from SA. I am guessing he bought it there, but I will be on the lookout for more stateside. Cheers…
If you’re ever in the Chicago area, Binny’s carries them. But so do many others. Kanonkop is the benchmark for Pinotage. (My wife’s obsessed with the grape)