Beeslaar Pinotage 2021

Located on the slopes of Simonsberg Hill, in the heart of the Stellenbosch region of South Africa, the Beeslaar vineyard benefits from a climate tempered by ocean breezes from False Bay. The Pinotage vines are planted in soils of decomposed granite and clay, which offer natural drainage and good moisture retention. The moderate altitude and significant temperature variations promote a slow and even ripening of the grapes, allowing the varietal character and the identity of the South African terroir to be precisely expressed.

The grapes are hand-harvested, then destemmed and carefully sorted before a cold pre-fermentation maceration. Fermentation takes place in open vats, with regular pump-overs and punch-downs to extract color and structure while preserving the fruit. After racking and gentle pressing, the wine is transferred to oak barrels, mostly French, for extended aging. This allows the tannins to soften, aromatic complexity to develop, and the oak notes to subtly integrate before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of black plum , ripe cherry , and blackberry , complemented by floral touches of violet and spicy nuances of pepper and clove , supported by elegant oak with hints of vanilla and cedar . The palate is ample and concentrated, carried by fine yet structured tannins , well-integrated acidity, and a velvety texture, leading to a long and flavorful finish.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today, South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often share more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, heavily influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.