Pinotage

Tasting profile

Structure: full-bodied, high tannin, medium acidity, dry

If Pinotage has a reference bottling, this is it. Kanonkop have made the variety since 1973, first under Beyers Truter — universally called the king of Pinotage — and since 2002 under Abrie Beeslaar, named IWSC International Winemaker of the Year in 2008. The fruit comes from low-yielding estate blocks on the Simonsberg foothills aged between forty-five and seventy years, fermented traditionally in open-top fermenters with hands-on cellar work, put through malolactic in new French oak and matured eighteen months in predominantly new barrels. That regime is why this tastes nothing like the rustic, burnt-rubber caricature the grape carries: expect pencil shavings and dark plum over licorice, ground black pepper and pink peppercorn, rich and concentrated with real structure underneath. It also explains why it ages — this is a wine to cellar, not to drink on release.

When to drink

Cellarion's sommeliers have reviewed the drink window of 3 vintages of Pinotage. Sign up free to see when each one is ready.

Where it comes from

Pinotage

Pinotage is a red grape created in South Africa in 1925 by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault, and it has become the country's distinctive homegrown signature variety.

More wines

From Kanonkop

• Cabernet Sauvignon — Kanonkop, Stellenbosch
• Kadette Cape Blend — Kanonkop, Stellenbosch
• Paul Sauer — Kanonkop, Stellenbosch

More red wines from Coastal Region

• Seaward Pinotage — Spier, WO Coastal Region
• Cabernet Sauvignon — Elands Pass, Coastal Region
• La Cotte — Franschhoek Cellar, Franschhoek Valley
• Red — Khai Wines, Coastal Region

Frequently asked questions

Where is Pinotage from?

Pinotage is produced by Kanonkop in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa.

What grapes are in Pinotage?

Pinotage is made from Pinotage.