Blog Archives

Fairview Primo Pinotage

We had lunch with the grower, Jan, and sat outside and drank slightly chilled bottles of the Primo 2004. This is the current vintage. It was very modern a delicious; a real crowd-pleaser. Not heavy, easy-drinking, smooth.

Posted in fairview, pinotage, primo, South Africa | 1 Comment

MAN Vintners

Sauvignon Blanc 2007: Mildly herbaceous; subtle, with nice acidity. All steel. Would be great ice cold. Chenin Blanc 2007: Good acid, nice midpalate and richness, especially for such an inexpensive wine. A touch of RS on the finish. Simply on of the best whites for the price (around $7); fantastic with Asian cuisine. Pinotage 2007: [More]

Posted in MAN Vintners, pinotage, South Africa | 1 Comment

Spice Route

Dry farmed reds from the barren Swartland. Spice Route Mourvedre 2006: Wonderful nose; lots of blueberry. Tannic, rich, real Mourvedre character. Modern style. Spice Route Pinotage 2006: Clean and modern; no rubber/smoke. (This was probably bad winemaking and cellar management in South Africa; I had zero flawed wines, full of Brett, on this trip.) Spice [More]

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Fairview

Fairview Goats do Roam White 2007: kinda hot; reminds me of Tablas Creek White. Viognier/Grenache Blanc/Chenin Blanc Goats do Roam Rose 2008: Tank sample. Drawn off juice from reds, normally Pinotage/Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre Goats do Roam Red 2006: Mostly Shiraz with Pinotage. Aussie-style red with plump fruit. Goats In Villages Red 2006: Shiraz/Pinotage. Good and tannic. Pinotage [More]

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Hamilton Russell

Chardonnay 2007: The vintage produced wines that are “easy and open” and “mineral instead of fruit-driven.” The wine had lots of acidity and was oaky (but not insanely obstrusive). Low pH like Chablis; it is a “dry, austere, and mineral” wine. Chardonnay 2006: Less acidity, probably due to the extra year in bottle. Southern Right [More]

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Smokin’ Wine

I always thought that the smoky quality of South African wines came from the addition of Pinotage in the blends but, after having the 2oo1 Rust en Vrede blend, I think this may just be a property of South African wine. This was a massively concentrated wine with a ton of smokiness that will probably [More]

Posted in boekenhoutskloof, chocolate block, pinotage, rust en vrede, South Africa | 2 Comments

Pinotage, Mea Culpa!

After being eviscerated by The Pinotage Police for suggesting that 100% Pinotages were nothing more than a curiosity, I took it upon myself to try one above the ten dollar mark. And I’m glad I did! The Wildekrans Pinotage has bold, rich fruit that would please anyone from the world of California to Aussie wine. [More]

Posted in pinotage, South Africa, wildekrans | 1 Comment