The Winery of Good Hope Pinotage
Pairs with: Glazed barbecued pork ribs, grilled sausages, smoked duck breast, earthy mushroom flatbreads, or a slightly spicy chicken potjie stew.
Good for: Completely resetting your expectations of South African Pinotage, serving slightly chilled at a backyard summer barbecue, or enjoying as a vibrant, lithe weeknight red.
Grape: 100% Pinotage.
I am from: Coastal Region, South Africa (Sourced from ~22-year-old vines in Northern Stellenbosch and Voor Paardeberg).
The Story: Pinotage—a historic cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault—has earned a bit of a notorious reputation in the wine world for being prone to harsh, bitter, or heavily oaked profiles. The team at The Winery of Good Hope set out to create the ultimate antidote to that old-school style. For this "Full Berry Fermentation" bottling, the grapes are dropped gently via gravity into stainless steel tanks with their skins completely unbroken. This allows for a spontaneous, wild yeast fermentation to occur entirely inside the whole berries (similar to carbonic maceration) with minimal skin contact. By stripping away heavy wood and avoiding hard extraction, they successfully highlight the prettiest, most delicate, and textural elements of the grape's genetic heritage while completely bypassing any aggressive bitterness.
Why You'll Love Me: It is exceptionally juicy, bright, and wonderfully moreish, trading heavy extraction for pure, light-on-its-feet fluidity. It pours a clear, energetic ruby-purple color in the glass. The nose is highly expressive and instantly charming, popping with aromas of cranberry compote, wild red cherries, and raspberry sauce, subtly underpinned by hints of ground coffee beans and a savory, herbal earthiness. On the palate, it delivers a beautifully lithe, medium-bodied profile with a smooth and almost weightless mouthfeel. Its bright, crunchy acidity perfectly slices through the red berry core, framed by incredibly soft, powdery tannins that coast effortlessly into a clean, subtly spiced finish.
