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Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage 2019
About this Wine
A single Pinotage vineyard planted in 1953 is the birthplace of this prized red wine. The majestic old vines offer small berries with extremely concentrated flavours. After fermentation, the wine is placed in new French oak barrels where it ages for 18 months prior to bottling. Dense with dark fruit and black cherry, the wine is sleek and muscular with a luxurious and beguiling presence on the palate. Eminently accessible, this regal wine will age magnificently for 30 years from vintage.
Tasting Notes
Deep purple in colour, with rich and layered flavours of red and black cherries, dark plums, wild bramble fruit with subtle sweet spice and oak undertones. The seamlessly integrated oak and velvety tannins add firm support and structure to the sultry fruit core. The perfect balance of elegance and complexity- iron fist in a velvet glove!
ALC 13.59% | RS 3.6 g/l | TA 5.1 g/l | pH 4.07 | FREE SO2 41 mg/l | TOTAL SO2 92 mg/l | VA 0.78 g/l
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The carry-over effect of the previous three year’s drought was still visible in this vintage, despite the higher rainfall during the season, and it delivered a smaller crop, but of high quality. Despite the relative low water stress, the cool weather contributed to smaller berries, and less irrigation was needed in this growing season.
WINEMAKING / MATURATION
Fermentation took place in open top concrete fermenters. The floating skins were punched down by hand, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3.5 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured for 18 months in 100% new 225L French Nevers oak barrels.
Scores & Reviews
96 pts Tim Atkin MW 2022
The yields are tiny at two tons per hectare in this 68-year-old Pinotage block, which partly explains the high price. But it’s also an attempt to wave the flag for a variety that Kanonkop has almost made its own. Cinnamon and ginger spice notes segue into palate that’s rich and layered, featuring blueberry and blood orange fruit, granular tannins and vivid acidity.
2024-35
5 Stars 2022 Platter’s South African Wine Guide
Remarkable pinotage from venerable single-vineyard. 19 (95 pts) returns to form after less concentrated 18 (93 pts). More darkly mysterious than brooding, with velvet luxuriousness & soft, long-lingering sweetness on big tannins structure needing time to integrate – the all new oak already getting there. Give it a decade, if possible.
A single Pinotage vineyard planted in 1953 is the birthplace of this prized red wine. The majestic old vines offer small berries with extremely concentrated flavours. After fermentation, the wine is placed in new French oak barrels where it ages for 18 months prior to bottling. Dense with dark fruit and black cherry, the wine is sleek and muscular with a luxurious and beguiling presence on the palate. Eminently accessible, this regal wine will age magnificently for 30 years from vintage.
$254.99
Out of stock
