GENERAL INFORMATION
Estate / Producer / Brand: Kanonkop Wine Estate
Region: Simonsberg & Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Appellation: Stellenbosch, Wines of South Africa
Type: Dry red wine, non-sparkling
Vintage: 2019
Date of Tasting: April 2023
Type of viticulture: conventional
Grapes used: 100% Pinotage
Vintage Blend: 100% grapes from 2019
Winemaking details: old vines (66 years on average), alcoholic fermentation in concrete tank, ‘Pigeages’ (every 2 hours during alcoholic fermentation), Malolactic conversion
Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels (100% new oak barrels)
Sugar level: low (3.1g/ liter of residual sugar)
Sulphites: contains sulphites
APPEARANCE
- Colour = Purple
- Intensity = Deep
NOSE
- Intensity = Pronounced
- Aromas Characteristics = Primary + Secondary + Tertiary
- Aromas = Cherry, black cherry, black plum, vanilla, spicy notes (hints of cloves), hints of chocolate
PALATE
- Sweetness = Dry
- Acidity = Medium+
- Tannins = Medium+ (silky)
- Alcohol = Medium (13.5%)
- Body = Medium+
- Flavour Intensity = Pronounced
- Flavour Characteristics = Primary + Secondary + Tertiary
- Flavour details = Cherry, black cherry, black plum, vanilla, spicy notes (hints of cloves), hints of chocolate
- Other = lovely melting tannins
- Finish = Long
GENERAL ASSESSMENT (1)
- Overall Quality = Outstanding
- Bottle Aging =
- Can be kept at around 10°C for up to 15-20 years
- Will gain complexity from aging
- Retail Price = 160 euros for a 75cl individual bottle (France retail price, incl. taxes)
- Value for Money = good
- Comparison with same price competition = good
- Suitability for Diabetics = not suitable (3.1g/ liter of residual sugar)
- Service Temperature = around 16°C
- Suggested Food & Wine Pairing = barbecued venison, barbecued beef, grilled fish (tuna or snoek), roast duck with berry sauce, pork belly, roasted meat, grilled meat with teriyaki sauce, can be tried with curry sauce based plates
- Comments = Concentration, precision and finesse are the key words for this wine. The tannins are silky and blend perfectly into the fruit aromas (black plum). The finish is complex and persistent with well-integrated oak nuances (cloves, vanilla), all enhanced by spicy notes. A very fine wine from one of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in South Africa. This is probably one of the finest Pinotages I have tasted.
- Final Grade = A
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Wine is a gourmet treasure, do not abuse alcohol!
None of this content has been sponsored
I did not receive any gifts or free samples that could be related to this article
Wine is a gourmet treasure, do not abuse alcohol!
None of this content has been sponsored
I did not receive any gifts or free samples that could be related to this article
(1)GENERAL ASSESSMENT GUIDE
Please note that although all efforts have been made to be as objective as possible, the general assessment inherently involves a degree of subjectivity based on a personal evaluation of the wine.
- Overall Quality scale
- Poor < Acceptable < Good < Very Good < Outstanding
- Bottle Aging
- Will it beneficiate from additional aging?
- Retail Price
- Usually the retail price for one bottle including taxes
- Value for Money
- Quality offered compared to the price paid
- Comparison with same price competition
- where does it stand compared to average competition of the same price range
- Suitability for Diabetics
- Evaluation of the level of final sugar for early stages diabetics
- Comments
- Any additional elements worth noting
- Final Grade Scale
- A++ = Out of the Charts Wine (Stellar, Hors Classe, Fuori Classe)
- A+ = Outstanding Wine
- A = Great Wine
- A- = Very Very Good
- B+ = Very Good
- B = Good
- B- = Noteworthy
- C+ = Acceptable
- C = Poor
- F = The worst grade of this scale
