Neethlingshof Pinotage 2023
Type: Red
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Grape Variety: 100% Pinotage
Climate: The locality of Neethlingshof enables cool sea breezes from both the Indian and Atlantic oceans to penetrate the vineyards and cool down the grapes during hot summer days
Terroir: The grapes were sourced from 21-year-old south-east facing vineyards. Grown in deep red soil at 125 m above sea level, the vines are trellised on a five-wire vertical Perold system and irrigated by means of a drip system
Winemaking: The grapes were harvested by hand at 26 balling mid-February with a yield of 11 tons per hectare. Fermentation in rotation tanks took place at 26° to 28°C over seven days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured in a combination of French (60%) and American (40%) oak, with 40% in new barrels for a period of nine months
Color: Deep ruby
Nose: Aromas of ripe red plum, black cherry, cloves and a hint of sweet tobacco
Palate: A full-bodied wine with flavours of plum, toasted coconut and dark chocolate with a good tannic backbone coming through on the palate
About the Winery:
In the heart of the Cape wine region, you will find Neethlingshof Estate, one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa. Wines have been produced here since 1692. Originally founded by a German immigrant named Willem Barend Lubbe, it now produces high-quality wines from the Western Cape. Since 2003, they have also been pursuing an active biodiversity strategy to limit the monoculture of wine.
The estate grows many different grape varieties, including well-known ones such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc, but also the Pinotage, Gewürztraminer or Riesling typical of South Africa.
With their south and southwest exposure, the plants soak up plenty of sun during the day, while being cooled by cold sea air at night. The growth process is thus rather slow, which gives the grapes a ripe aroma.
