Pinotage
Pinotage [ˌpinɔˈtaʒə] is a wine grape that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (called Hermitage in South Africa and parts of Europe, hence the portmanteau name of this grape variety).
Pinotage is a controversial grape variety that was created in South Africa in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, a professor at Stellenbosch University but not used commercially until 1959. Perold was attempting to combine the best qualities of Pinot Noir, a grape that can be difficult to grow but with excellent wine-making properties, with the Cinsault, which is very prolific and sturdy. For over forty years after its introduction (when it was very poorly received by a team of visiting British Masters of Wine - who said it was reminiscemt of ``rusty nails`` and described the nose as ``hot and horrible``, ``reeking of nail varnish`` and ``acetone`` - Pinotage was relatively unknown outside South Africa. However, after the apartheid system fell, international boycotts were lifted, and Pinotage began to spread commercially. Although it is still best known in South Africa, it is now also grown in New Zealand where there are 94 hectares, Zimbabwe, Brazil, California, Canada, Israel, and Virginia. The total area outside South Africa remains tiny, however and international producers are showing far greater interest in planting Italian and other Rhone varieties.
Pinotage is a viticultural cross, not a hybrid. In viticulture, a cross is a cultivar which is the result of crossing two or more cultivars within the same species, while a hybrid is a cultivar bred from members of different species. Both of Pinotage`s ancestors are vitis vinifera. The same, however, can be said of ruby cabernet a US cross between cabernet sauvignon and carignan that never gets the reverence paid to the Pinotage. (Though, revealingly, this last variety is grown as a single-varietal by serious wineries in South Africa, something that haappens almost nowhere else).
Pinotage fans including winemaker Beyers Truter of Kanonkop, believe that it has a distinctive, refreshing, fruity flavour, with a banana-like taste, earthy tones, and bramble fruit notes. Those who dislike the grape, including many of South Africa`s top winemakers, including Andre van Rensburg of Vergelegen who famously said that ``Pinotage is as untenable as child rape``, do so with vehemence. The anti-Pinotage brigade accept that good modern examples are far better than the comment by the Masters of Wine would suggest, but they still have a distinctive bitter character. People involved in selling South African wines overseas have found that UK and US consumers tend to prefer Cape cabernet Sauvignon and shiraz to Pinotage.
Open minded tasters on both sides concede that very good Pinotages have been made, but the critics would contend that this has more to do with the skill of the winemaker than any inherent quality in the grape. The variety can be used for fruity red wines capable of aging, as well as blush, fortified `port` style, red sparkling and other styles. Pinotage is a required component (20-30%) in a Cape blend.
This article is based entirely or in part on the
Pinotage wikipedia article
and is licenced under the terms of the
GNU Free Documentation Licence.
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In this categoryCape Atlantic Pinotage 2008
Alc 14. 5%. Screw Top. A medium bodied wine with rich, smoky dark fruit flavours. The mouthfeel is smooth textured with supple tannins. A very good red wine food partner with curries or spicy foods. [read on...]
A B V: 14.5% Vintage: 2008 Color: red Code: 76178
Cederberg Cederberger 2007
A dry red blend of 50% Merlot 30% Pinotage and 20% Shiraz. Beautiful ripe blackberried fruits with smokey roasted aromas and well intergrated juicy tannins. Two years in bottle has brought the wine forward and it is drinking extremely well and will continue to do so until at least 2012. A great partner with red meats and game. Perfect with BBQ. [read on...]
A B V: 14.5% Vintage: 2007 Color: red Country: South Africa Code: 74831
Cederberg Cerderberger 2008
A fruit driven blend of 50% Merlot 30% Pinotage and 20% Shiraz of bottled sunshine. Expect a wine filled with ripe plums, raspberries and hints of dark chocolate. With juicy tannins and three years ageing in bottle makes it an outstanding choice for wine enthusiasts regular 'house wine'. Great value. [read on...]
A B V: 14.5% Vintage: 2008 Color: red Country: France Code: 75830
Kaapzicht Classic Red Kaleidoscope 2007
An interesting name for this wine. Given 5 minutes in the glass it opened and developed many delicious flavours, with black cherry, plum, mulberry cassis, evident. The tannins are smooth and well intrigated with a juicy texture. This berry toned complexity is because of the blend. 51% Merlot 22% Shiraz 19% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Cinsaut 4% Pinotage [read on...]
A B V: 13,5% Vintage: 2007 Color: red Country: South Africa Region: Western Cape Code: 74753
Kaapzicht Pinotage 2007
Kaapzicht is without doubt one of the top producers of pinotage. South Africa's national grape. The vine was created in stellenbosch in 1924 by crossing the Pinot Noir with Cinsault which used to be called Hermitage, hense the name. Sweet ripe pure-fruited aromas of plum, bramble and black cherries follow onto the palate to add to rasperry and mulberry flavours. Some soft very well intregrated French oak spice and vanilla adds to its complexity. [read on...]
A B V: 14,5% Vintage: 2007 Color: red Country: South Africa Region: Western Cape Code: 74788
Koelenbosch Pinotage 2008
The Pinotage vine was created in Stellenbosch in 1924 by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsaut which used to be called Hermitage - hence the name Pinotage. This vintage is excellent. Vibrant red colour with creamy butterscotch, plum, bramble, black cherries, ripe raspberries and a hint of spice on the nose. The butterscotch follows through onto the palate with rich cherry and mulberry flavours and a hint of spice on the farewell. Chosen as TOP 20 PINOTAGE in South Africa 2010. [read on...]
A B V: 14% Vintage: 2008 Color: red Country: France Code: 76073
Koelenhof Pinotage Rose Medium Dry 2006
An award winning medium dry rose produced from the pinotage grape with an appealing crushed fruit sappiness. A little deeper in colour than most rose`s and having captured the distinctive very pleasing pinotage character. [read on...]
A B V: 14.5% Vintage: 2006 Color: unspecifie Country: South Africa Region: Stellenbosch Code: 66917
Koelenhof Pinotage Sparkling Rosé 2010
Alc. 14. 5% Don't be confused by Vin-Sec appearing on the label. This medium dry rose fizz has seductive ripe Pinotage overtones with deep pink colour and bursting with ripe red berry flavours and a whisper of white pepper on the farewell. Be adventurous and try a bottle. You will be back for more. . . . . many more! [read on...]
A B V: 14.5% Vintage: 2010 Color: rose Country: South Africa Code: 76109
Pinotage 2007 Meinert
As scion of a Namibian printing and publishing family and ex journalist Meinert aptly named this deeply coloured Pinotage "Printers Ink". It is full bodied, elegant and has richness on the mid palate. [read on...]
A B V: 13,5% Vintage: 2007 Color: red Country: South Africa Region: Western Cape Code: 74458
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