Open 2h, paired with white fish yassa (onion, garlic, ginger, dijon, lemon). Grand nose of cherry compote, dry leaf. Nice fruit remains with medium weight on the palate. Mostly resolved tannin. Balanced. Medium finish. Excellent. Not fading but seems unlikely to improve.
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Praelum - South Africa: Then and Now (Praelum Wine Bistro): Medium ruby, slight garnet edges. Pronounced meaty, BBQ smoked aromas, with paprika, ripe jammy cassis. Flavours of blackberry, cassis, plum, purple florals, grass, fern, sandalwood. Still somewhat lighter in body, but good tannin structure and acidic freshness. A fair length
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Third wine and second red wine at our annual DMV South Africa Tasting. Deep ruby core with lighter edges. A little mute to start on the nose with some smokiness, dark blackberries, spices and cedar. Medium tannins (6.5/10), solid acidity and medium plus to full bodied. A bit reserved on the palate to start. Darker in the palate than the nose with dark blue and black berries, and spices. Fruitier on day two. Long and lingering finish. Still seems to have quite a bit of life left in it. Drink till 2026.
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Brings me back to when I first tasted this one many years ago. Still (almost) the same fruit with the back note of burnt rubber/smoke. Silky tannins, god acidity, well balanced. Has aged remarkably well. Last bottle...
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Deep purple color. Very soft. Medium to medium+ in body. A little bit of eucalyptus in the bouquet along with fig and plum. Mushroom and plum on the palate along with fig and leather. This is wonderful. 93.
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Color: Garnet red with some bricking around the edges. Nose/Smell: Very savory, meaty notes and mesquite smoke. Palate/Taste: Moderate tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Very well integrated and savory. Solid acidity and all fits very well together. Long and lingering finish. Opinion: A lot more approachable than the 2013. Of course a lot softer tannins and more integrated. Can easily last up to another 10 years but would be perfect before 2020. Dates: Now till 2026.
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Decanted for one hour before tasting. Dark inky purple colour – almost black. Banana (peal), dark sweet plums and spicy oak on the nose and palate. Viscous to the point of being syrupy. Extreme concentration on the initial attack, but oddly enough the flavours fade quite substantially on the mid palate and by the time one reaches the end there’s little more than alcoholic heat left. I find it hard to rate this wine since it quickly became clear to me that I won’t be buying much Pinotage in the future – this varietal simply didn’t suit my palate. Trying to be objective, points are deducted for an uneven performance throughout the taste curve and a lack of the grip I feel is necessary to balance out a wine with these kinds of “in your face” properties. There are two or three glasses left in the bottle – I’ll see if anything interesting happens during the next couple of days.
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I would drink this now. Don't wait It's a very unique wine. Bacon,tar,banana ,smokey oak. Some herbal qualities, which for me seem unbalanced and bitter. Overall a fun and interesting wine.
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One of the more dynamic wines we have had in a while. Went into it with a bit of skepticism, as I haven't really enjoyed pinotage before. Had a little just after opening. Fruit was enjoyable, perfume somewhat of pinot. The finish however was very hot and unpleasant. Had some a few hours later with a stew and the finish had mellowed out quite a bit. Chewy, rustic, still tasty fruit. Had another glass a day later and it was tamer yet, especially on the finish. In terms of recommendation, I would say, go for it, but be prepared for something unusual.
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Nice P&P over dinner. A good rest value wine and a fun grape. Dark, dusty fruits on the nose. Rich in the mouth, palate filler, balanced. Bit of heat, tight. All expected with no decant. Possible + points with a 2 hour decant.
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Nose has the distinct Pinotage funk of sweaty sock mixed with a dusty attic (not corked) smell with undertones of raspberry and cedar. It is full bodied and the palate echoes the nose. It does have a metallic taste as well and an added dimension to the fruit, which is still in the background. I'd like to see the fruit be more predominant here, though it does come through more on the palate than on the nose. It is what I think of as a funk bomb. The finish is a bit awkward as it leaves me with something similar to an ash tray. I don't drink much Pinotage, but I don't think this is any better than most less expensive ones I've had, and I remember a couple of those being better than this.
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One of the smokiest wines I've ever had (both nose and palate). If you stick your nose in the glass, you'd swear there's a (tiny) cigarette in there. You can taste the faintest remnant of the pinot noir origins here. Also mild spice. Color is opaque purple though, nothing like PN. Bacony flavors add to the smoke theme. This is enjoyable, but doesn't hold my interest for long.
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I have not liked a Pinotage like this before. The colour is dark and inky (a young wine still). The aroma is pleasant, of boysenberry and blackberry jam (not jelly!). The flavour is a bold combination of the two. There are dryness and fruitiness at the same time. I like this wine. Very good (85.5).
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Pleasant enough wine which opens with some nice fruit and coffee notes. The lack of a finish and the lack of complexity makes the wine seem a little flat. There are many far better wines out there in this price range.
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Honeymoon in South Africa; 12/16/2008-12/23/2008 (Londolozi, Cape Town, Constantia, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschoek - South Africa): I was surprised by the quality of this wine. Interesting nose with bread, dried straw mushrooms, dried earth, a touch of meat and some high-toned flowery notes floating around. Lots of spice on the palate, with a liberal sprinkling of pepper and rich dark berries and cherries held up by clean acid and dry woody tannins that showed up as the wine moved towards the finish. A whiff of wood spice that whirled around there made me think how good this would be with a BBQ.
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Kanonkop Estate - Party & Tasting - Pinotage (Kanonkop Estate): Barrel sample - Sweet fruit, beautiful welcoming fruit mulberry/blackberry with spices and coffee tones. Superb and stunning. From the the old vineyard, 3 tons per hectare, 16 months in 100% new French oak barrels
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10/10/2021 - Empirate wrote:
Open 2h, paired with white fish yassa (onion, garlic, ginger, dijon, lemon).
Grand nose of cherry compote, dry leaf. Nice fruit remains with medium weight on the palate. Mostly resolved tannin. Balanced. Medium finish. Excellent. Not fading but seems unlikely to improve.
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11/23/2019 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 91 Points
Praelum - South Africa: Then and Now (Praelum Wine Bistro): Medium ruby, slight garnet edges. Pronounced meaty, BBQ smoked aromas, with paprika, ripe jammy cassis. Flavours of blackberry, cassis, plum, purple florals, grass, fern, sandalwood. Still somewhat lighter in body, but good tannin structure and acidic freshness. A fair length
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3/2/2018 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 92 Points
Third wine and second red wine at our annual DMV South Africa Tasting. Deep ruby core with lighter edges. A little mute to start on the nose with some smokiness, dark blackberries, spices and cedar. Medium tannins (6.5/10), solid acidity and medium plus to full bodied. A bit reserved on the palate to start. Darker in the palate than the nose with dark blue and black berries, and spices. Fruitier on day two. Long and lingering finish. Still seems to have quite a bit of life left in it. Drink till 2026.
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11/12/2017 - KESA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brings me back to when I first tasted this one many years ago. Still (almost) the same fruit with the back note of burnt rubber/smoke. Silky tannins, god acidity, well balanced. Has aged remarkably well.
Last bottle...
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4/28/2017 - Winiac wrote: 93 Points
Ripe fruit with focus and solid structure and acidity. Medium to long length and very pleasant finish. Exceptional! Went great with lamb chops.
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2/11/2016 - tgang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep purple color. Very soft. Medium to medium+ in body. A little bit of eucalyptus in the bouquet along with fig and plum. Mushroom and plum on the palate along with fig and leather. This is wonderful. 93.
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1/9/2016 - cab blends wrote: 88 Points
Still strong tannins 7/10 - slightly brick colored
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12/19/2015 - Millennial Drinkers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Color: Garnet red with some bricking around the edges.
Nose/Smell: Very savory, meaty notes and mesquite smoke.
Palate/Taste: Moderate tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Very well integrated and savory. Solid acidity and all fits very well together. Long and lingering finish.
Opinion: A lot more approachable than the 2013. Of course a lot softer tannins and more integrated. Can easily last up to another 10 years but would be perfect before 2020.
Dates: Now till 2026.
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2/24/2014 - KAP wrote: 90 Points
Always nice.
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2/14/2014 - cab blends Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blind home wine tasting with Scoring (sets of Horizontals - Napa Cab & Pinotage) (Our home): This was significantly better than the 2009. It is clearly evidenced in the nose and has more tannins than 2009.
Lovely violet nose with a moderate tannins levels that are softening.
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8/31/2012 - KAP wrote: 90 Points
Tobacco.
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1/8/2012 - tshahar wrote: 91 Points
This is still a baby, toke 3 days in open bottle to open up and lose the funky taste of a young pinotage.
Recommend to open it in 3-4 years
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12/2/2011 - MatthijsVisser wrote: 89 Points
Appearance: clear, deep ruby
Nose: clean, medium(+) intensity, developing, blackcurrant, banana, meaty, smoky.
Palate: dry, medium(+) acidity, high alcohol, medium tannins, medium(+) body, medium(+) intensity, blackcurrant, banana, earthy, smoky, medium(+) length
Conclusions: 89pts, drink now, interesting complexity though a bit funky
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11/26/2011 - Pebben wrote: 86 Points
Decanted for one hour before tasting. Dark inky purple colour – almost black. Banana (peal), dark sweet plums and spicy oak on the nose and palate. Viscous to the point of being syrupy. Extreme concentration on the initial attack, but oddly enough the flavours fade quite substantially on the mid palate and by the time one reaches the end there’s little more than alcoholic heat left. I find it hard to rate this wine since it quickly became clear to me that I won’t be buying much Pinotage in the future – this varietal simply didn’t suit my palate. Trying to be objective, points are deducted for an uneven performance throughout the taste curve and a lack of the grip I feel is necessary to balance out a wine with these kinds of “in your face” properties. There are two or three glasses left in the bottle – I’ll see if anything interesting happens during the next couple of days.
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9/18/2011 - admid wrote: 84 Points
App: Blackish purple
Aroma: smooth integreated berries
Full-bodied and available tannins
Good length
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8/8/2011 - boodra wrote: 87 Points
Hearthy red. Spicy. Dark creamy fruit. A bit dense, but nice without bean that special.
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12/21/2010 - Mister45 wrote: 88 Points
I would drink this now. Don't wait
It's a very unique wine. Bacon,tar,banana ,smokey oak. Some herbal qualities, which for me seem unbalanced and bitter. Overall a fun and interesting wine.
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2/12/2010 - kenthargis wrote: 89 Points
One of the more dynamic wines we have had in a while. Went into it with a bit of skepticism, as I haven't really enjoyed pinotage before. Had a little just after opening. Fruit was enjoyable, perfume somewhat of pinot. The finish however was very hot and unpleasant. Had some a few hours later with a stew and the finish had mellowed out quite a bit. Chewy, rustic, still tasty fruit. Had another glass a day later and it was tamer yet, especially on the finish. In terms of recommendation, I would say, go for it, but be prepared for something unusual.
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12/1/2009 - ToddR911 wrote: 89 Points
Had a bottle last night. Nice flavors. Our bartender decanted it but it was still a little tight so I'd wait a while on drinking this one this young.
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11/21/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 89 Points
Nice P&P over dinner. A good rest value wine and a fun grape. Dark, dusty fruits on the nose. Rich in the mouth, palate filler, balanced. Bit of heat, tight. All expected with no decant. Possible + points with a 2 hour decant.
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7/21/2009 - missatiejacket wrote: 80 Points
Nose has the distinct Pinotage funk of sweaty sock mixed with a dusty attic (not corked) smell with undertones of raspberry and cedar. It is full bodied and the palate echoes the nose. It does have a metallic taste as well and an added dimension to the fruit, which is still in the background. I'd like to see the fruit be more predominant here, though it does come through more on the palate than on the nose. It is what I think of as a funk bomb. The finish is a bit awkward as it leaves me with something similar to an ash tray. I don't drink much Pinotage, but I don't think this is any better than most less expensive ones I've had, and I remember a couple of those being better than this.
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5/22/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 87 Points
One of the smokiest wines I've ever had (both nose and palate). If you stick your nose in the glass, you'd swear there's a (tiny) cigarette in there. You can taste the faintest remnant of the pinot noir origins here. Also mild spice. Color is opaque purple though, nothing like PN. Bacony flavors add to the smoke theme. This is enjoyable, but doesn't hold my interest for long.
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2/22/2009 - Ombibulous wrote: 86 Points
I have not liked a Pinotage like this before. The colour is dark and inky (a young wine still). The aroma is pleasant, of boysenberry and blackberry jam (not jelly!). The flavour is a bold combination of the two. There are dryness and fruitiness at the same time. I like this wine. Very good (85.5).
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2/7/2009 - jdrach wrote:
Rich cherry & blackberry with a hint of leather & vanilla
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12/26/2008 - joshbrooklyn wrote: 80 Points
Pleasant enough wine which opens with some nice fruit and coffee notes. The lack of a finish and the lack of complexity makes the wine seem a little flat. There are many far better wines out there in this price range.
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12/22/2008 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
Honeymoon in South Africa; 12/16/2008-12/23/2008 (Londolozi, Cape Town, Constantia, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschoek - South Africa): I was surprised by the quality of this wine. Interesting nose with bread, dried straw mushrooms, dried earth, a touch of meat and some high-toned flowery notes floating around. Lots of spice on the palate, with a liberal sprinkling of pepper and rich dark berries and cherries held up by clean acid and dry woody tannins that showed up as the wine moved towards the finish. A whiff of wood spice that whirled around there made me think how good this would be with a BBQ.
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3/8/2007 - pontac wrote: 97 Points
Kanonkop Estate - Party & Tasting - Pinotage (Kanonkop Estate): Barrel sample - Sweet fruit, beautiful welcoming fruit mulberry/blackberry with spices and coffee tones. Superb and stunning. From the the old vineyard, 3 tons per hectare, 16 months in 100% new French oak barrels
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