SOUTH AFRICA
Wildekrans Pinotage
2001 Pinotage
Viticulture
| Vineyard: | Pinotage has a habit to colour and ripen easily, thus the planted slope faces east for the morning sun. This cooler orientation allows the more Burgundian flavour of Pinot Noir to dominate the earthy character of Cinsaut without losing colour. |
| Soil Type: | Bokkeveld Shale |
| Vine Age: | The grapes were selected from a four-hectare block of vines planted in 1994. |
| Irrigation: | Drip Method |
| Harvest Date: | This wine was harvested in February 2001. |
| Yield: |
Vinification:
The juice was fermented on the skins in stainless steel red wine fermentation tanks for five days. Wines were pumped through skins twice daily for colour extraction. This wine was matured for ten months in first, second and third-fill French oak barriques.
Bottling took place in May 2002.
Tasting Notes:
| Color: | The colour is a deep, dark purple with a black mountain pool opaque centre. |
| Nose: | |
| Palate: | The palate is cool climate pinotage, ripe fruit and soft, supple tannins with unobtrusive oak-barrel support. |
| Other: | This is an approachable and easy-drinking pinotage with a long, lingering, fruity raspberry and blackcurrant follow through. This is an elegant, stylish wine that can be drunk now and will also mature will for another six years. This wine has received many accolades: John Platter Wine Guide - 3½ stars Robert Parker Wine Guide - 86 points SAA Business Class 2003 |
Chemical Analysis:
| Alc (%): | 14.0 |
| RS (g/l): | 2.6 |
| TA (g/l): | 5.77 |
| pH: | 3.73 |