2016 Wildekrans Pinotage

Sorry--sold out!

Bot River, South Africa

Decanter 90 points, SILVER, 2018 DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS!

Wildekrans Pinotage is a must-try in the expansive world of red wine gems. We enjoyed a visit to this very special vineyard in April 2009 to taste their latest releases and tour the winery with winemaker William Wilkinson. Wildekrans Estate is a boutique winery nestled in the serene Bot River Valley in the Walker Bay wine ward, approximately 100km southeast of Cape Town, just beyond beautiful False Bay. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, Walker Bay is also the breeding grounds for the famous Southern Right Whale. Pinotage is the signature grape of South Africa, the result of crossing Cinsault with Pinot Noir back in 1925. Wildekrans consists of 35 hectares of grapes, all planted in a clay-rich subsoil mixed with a topsoil of stone and sand which ensures earthy red wines with silky tannins. The Wildekrans mission statement is “to produce wines that compete with the top twenty percent of the world’s premium white and red growing regions. These wines must be easy to enjoy, good with food and represented in all price categories.” We believe Wildekrans is succeeding admirably in their mission!

“Beautifully exotic melange of boot polish, sweet cherry kirsch and sour plum. Cool fruited, sleek and polished texture, and a long, distinguished finish.”—Decanter, 90 points!

Wildekrans Pinotage is 100% Pinotage sourced from low-yielding trellised vineyards--grown, made and bottled on the estate. It is bright, deep garnet red in color, with a nose of plums, cherries, vanilla, spice and earth. Medium-full in body with moderate acidity, this Pinotage has a silky texture with flavors of raspberries, jammy plum, cherry, mocha and spice that linger on the palate. 80% of this wine was matured for 12 months in medium toasted French oak and 20% in heavy toasted American oak. Softly balanced with ripe, complex fruit flavors and a long, smooth finish.

Enjoy Wildekrans Pinotage with spicy meats, grilled chicken, BBQ ribs and ripe, aromatic cheeses.