South African Wine

From Chris- "Pinotage has a reputation of being something of a “Marmite” variety and, in truth, I still blow pretty hot and cold with it. It’s very much a South African speciality - a cross between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir that’s been around for 80 or so years. At its best it’s all about lush, brambly fruit – loganberries and blackberries, at the other end of the scale it reeks of acetone and burnt rubber. I remember a tasting with Andre Van Rensberg, then winemaker with Vergelegen, who responded to a question with the retort “I’ve never killed anyone, never stolen from anyone and never planted Pinotage.” Any road up, I think this is rather good. Delheim were the first to produce a rose Pinotage in 1976 so they’ve had plenty of time to finetune their act. This is elegant and clean-as-a-whistle with more than a hint of strawberry fruit. Proper summertime rose."

The grapes for False Bay Whole Bunch Cinsault Mourvedre stem from bush-vine Cinsault (mostly old vines) in Stellenbosch and The Swartland, along with a small proportion of Mourvedre from Stellenbosch which adds a savoury depth to the wine. Although The Swartland is not as coastal as most of the vineyards used for the False Bay wines, it is an area where, quite frankly, grapes from old vines are available at the required prices. Thankfully, the area's old vines produce naturally low yields and retain good acidity despite being warmer and less windswept than Stellenbosch, so cooler, coastal Atlantic winds are less of a necessity for these gnarly old vines. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, whole-bunch pressed and fermented spontaneously with wild yeast in stainless steel and wooden foudre. The wine is left on lees for a minimum of three months before bottling. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa.

Old bush vine Cinsault forms the backbone of this ‘proper’ rosé. A pale, spicy and textural Rosé mostly sourced from bush-vine Cinsault with summer fruits on the palate and a lovely clean, savoury, dry finish.

False Bay Vineyards