Wine Composition
100% Pinotage
Winemakers Comments
Bright ruby-red hues. A textbook Stellenbosch
Pinotage with aromatic and spicy aromas of mulberry, raspberry and
cinnamon. Muscular, well integrated tannins add great structure. Flavours of
bramble, violets, plums and black berries are balanced by scented new oak.
An elegant wine with savoury notes on the lengthy finish, and a lifting
underlying freshness.
Awards
Tim Atkin | 94 points
Vinous Antonio Galloni | 91 points
Cellar Tracker | 90 points
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
14.32%
TA
5.8 g/l
pH
3.52
RS
2.0 g/l
Vinification
Fermentation took place in open concrete fermenters at 28°C. The cap was punched down manually every 2 hours and the juice drawn off the skins after three days and matured for 16 months in 225L French Nevers oak barrels - 80% new and 20% 2nd fill barrels.
Winemaker
Name - Abrie Beeslaar
Winery
Kanonkop is a fourth generation family estate, which was originally purchased by JW Sauer, a cabinet member in the parliament of the Union of South Africa. Kanonkop Estate is situated on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch Region of the Cape. It is between Stellenbosch and Paarl on the R44 and falls in a ward called Simonsberg, more commonly known as the “red wine bowl” of South Africa. It has earned a reputation both at home and abroad as an area producing the best wines in the country. Besides the solid foundation on which the estate’s winemaking principles are based, it is also blessed with ideal soils, cool sea breezes and long summer days, creating the perfect climate for growing grapes.