If you haven’t tried one for a while (thinking it might still be the bad, old, bitter, banana-flavoured bleurghh of the past) then catch a wake-up and try one of these. Modern, stylish, juicy, moreish – that’s today’s Pinotage.
Doran Vineyards Pinotage 2012 R69 cellar door
Edwin Doran is like me – a proudly-South African until it comes to rugby or cricket, at which point we revert, in Edwin’s case, to cheering for Ireland. He’s been a big supporter of South Africa for many years and now that he has bought his own vineyards and is making wine, perhaps he might even cheer for the Boks at some point! If he does, he’ll doubtless have a glass of this fabulous summer red in his hand – it’s juicy and soft, packed with black and red fruit and can easily be served chilled on a hot day.
Hidden Valley Pinotage 2013 R84 cellar door
I just ran a WSET wine course in Johannesburg and when the students finished their exams, this was one of the wines they chose for their celebrations. And a great celebration wine it was too – this is a lovely expression of Pinotage with lots of berry-cherry-leathery-spicy notes all wrapped up in soft velvety tannins with good length. We drank it with some great biltong – could we have been any more South African & proud?
Bosman Family Vineyards ‘Erfenis’ 2011 R378 cellar door
Okay – you’ve got me here. This isn’t actually 100% Pinotage. But it is a Pinotage-led blend and its name does mean ‘Heritage’ so I think that’s okay. As well as Pinotage, it’s got some Shiraz, Cinsault, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in it making it a real Rainbow Nation kind of wine fusing lots of different regions into one harmonious bottle. It’s a bit of a brooding monster still and will last for a long time, but if you want to drink it now, I’d try it with a lovely game steak.