Black Label Pinotage 2022

Located on the slopes of Simonsberg, in the heart of the Stellenbosch region of South Africa, the Kanonkop estate benefits from a Mediterranean climate tempered by ocean breezes from the Atlantic. The Pinotage vines are planted in soils of decomposed granite and red clay, providing natural drainage and good water retention. This combination of topography, exposure, and terroir gives the grapes consistent ripeness, a pronounced aromatic concentration, and a precise tannic structure—hallmarks of the wines from this historic estate.

The Pinotage grapes are hand-harvested, carefully sorted, and destemmed before maceration and fermentation in vats, with regular pump-overs to extract color and structure. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels, followed by extended aging in casks, primarily French oak, to refine the tannins and develop the aromatic complexity characteristic of this flagship wine of the estate.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black plum , black cherry , and blackberry , complemented by floral touches of violet and rose petals , as well as spicy nuances of sweet pepper and clove . Woody accents of vanilla and toasted oak mingle with a subtle smoky dimension. The palate is full and concentrated, supported by firm yet polished tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, flavorful, and slightly chocolatey 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.