2019 Black Label Pinotage
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Black Label Pinotage is more generous than most, with a fresh and juicy aroma with a hint of reduction. Made with 100% new French oak, the full-bodied Pinotage has lush oak flavors with a tight, gripping, tannic edge. You'll notice notes of juicy plum reduction, blackberry puree, potpourri and red peppercorn flavors as you drink it. The wine finishes gracefully and lingers on the palate with a firm tannic edge and a mineral-laced conclusion. The wine aged for a year and a half in new French oak. Only 6,000 bottles were produced.
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Average Score
Tim Jackson MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Pinotage Black Label has a very different aromatic profile compared to the previous two vintages, maybe partly due to the new cooperages used at the estate. Red fruit rather than black, very smooth, I can't help feeling that there is something a bit more "Gallic" than "Cape". The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fleshy and sappy, layers of red fruit infused with black pepper and clove. Very harmonious on the finish that lingers in the mouth. This will need time.
Single 38-ha plot of 66-year-old, dry-farmed bush vines, on decomposed granite and Hutton soils, harvested at 2.8 t/ha. Fermentation in open concrete fermenters at 28 °C, with manual punchdowns every two hours. Juice drawn off skins after three and a half days. 18 months in new, 225-litre French Nevers oak, mainly from Vicard. TA 5.1 g/l, pH 4.07, RS 3.6 g/l, VA 0.78 g/l, total SO 2 92 mg/l, free SO 2 41 mg/l. 6,900 bottles made . Mid-deep purple. Embryonic, with some floral notes, smoky hints and jammy blackberry alongside vanilla cream. Blue fruit and blackberry, with high, grippy, grainy tannins that are gum-puckering right now. Great length. This needs a lot of time to come together, but it’s pretty fine stuff. (TJ)