Description
Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage 2022
This wine is a beautiful expression of a single varietal, crafted from 100% Pinotage sourced from sustainably farmed, 19-year-old bush vines grown on a granitic ridge at one of the highest, coolest sites on the estate. The 2022 vintage in Stellenbosch was characterized by a cooler growing season with moderate summer temperatures, and the vineyard's south-facing slopes benefited from cooling Atlantic Ocean breezes to allow for an extended hang time without over-ripening. In the glass, the wine displays a deep ruby color with brilliant clarity and moderate viscosity, leading into a highly aromatic nose of cassis, black cherries, and raspberries, layered with secondary aromas of crushed violets, red pepper, cinnamon, and earthy tertiary undertones. On the palate, this is a dry, medium-bodied wine that leads with mouth-filling, juicy red fruit and plum flavors, framed by bright, delicate acidity and broad, chalky tannins that carry through to a long, lightly savory, leather-tinged finish. In the cellar, the grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, and undergo uninoculated, wild fermentation in 7,000-liter French oak tanks with 30% of the stems added back for structural complexity. Following 17 days on the skins, the wine is aged for 18 months in 225-liter French oak barriques (30% new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its raw, authentic character. For food pairings, this Pinotage pairs beautifully with a Texas-style spice-rubbed smoked beef brisket, where the wine's earthy spice and chalky tannins cut through the rich, fatty meat. It also serves as an exceptional match for grilled venison backstrap with a blackberry gastrique, perfectly echoing the wine's dark fruit and savory gamey elements. Averaging 90 points from major critics, this wine drinks well above its price point, offering tremendous value for a premium South African red in the $25 to $30 range.
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