Authentic South Africa from the characterful oracle of the movement himself, Adi Badenhorst. Shiraz, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca, Grenache and Mourvèdre from the Badenhorst home farm Kalmoesfontein were foot-trodden, wild yeast-fermented and left in closed concrete on their skins for 6 months before pressing off to rest quietly in huge old casks for an additional 16 months. Savoury cherry, wild strawberry, brambles and fine stony dust lure and lead onto a fresh palate, one worn around the edges by time. Cherry continues to lead the show, joined with aged leather, scrubby medicinal-tinged herbs, wildflowers, broken stone and an undercurrent of cured meat and cracked black pepper. Tannins are fine, slightly grippy and confidently subtle, handily propping up the textured, gently ripe fruit. Medicinal herbs linger on the lengthy finish. All this complexity in a welcome 13% alcohol. Stock up and spread the word about this fantastic value.
Clear medium-deep garnet. Nose of black cherry, plum, bitter chocolate and smoke. Medium-bodied with still-fresh acidity and lots of cherry, raisin and plum fruit and a bit of eucalyptus on the finish. I did indeed enjoy this during a winter snowstorm. Good value. At its peak now.
This great-value, fruit-forward Bordeaux-styled blend doles out plum, dark cherry, smoke, game and iodine qualities. No need to cellar, so drink up with some barbecue.
All jokes of Fifty Shades of Grey aside, S&M is a Rhône blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre. Full-bodied, there is lots of oaky mocha and vanilla rubbing shoulders with raspberry, dark cherry, blackberry, black pepper and game. Lengthy, there is a creamy texture, which rounds everything out.
From a top producer comes this equally exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied and elegant, it doles out the cherry, plum, blackberries, cassis, vanilla, violets and earth. The palate shows sweet fruit and suave tannins, allowing for a decade of cellaring.
Until about 5 years ago, the majority of Pinotage wines were bitter and ridden with loads of Brettanomyces (leathery, gamey qualities). Today, as a means to gain favour with international palates, coffee Pinotage has taken over, a style which emphasizes heavy oak flavours of chocolate, mocha and coffee as a means to cover the undesirable qualities. That said, there have always been a few producers who have churned out profound Pinotage, and Kanokop is certainly at the top of my list. The 2012 shows lovely raspberry, cassis, sweet cherry, vanilla, herbs and a touch of animal. Full-bodied, there is excellent length and structure to take it into the late 2020s.
Peach, yellow apple, honey, pineapple, pear, white flowers and mineral find a home in this crisp white. Great length and ready to drink, preferably with a cheese board or freshwater fish.