Kanonkop Estate Pinotage 750 ml

TASTING NOTES
Bright red in colour, with a purple hue. Bold aromas of plums & blackberries,
with layers of liquorice, smoke, roasted nuts and rich vanilla on the nose. The
palate is packed with flavours of plums, black and red cherries, dark
chocolate and spicy oak. The integrated and ripe tannins, together with the
satisfying acidity, results in a balanced wine with a long finish, promising
great maturation potential.

WINEMAKING / MATURATION
Fermented in open top concrete fermenters at 280C. The floating skins were
punched down by hand, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was
drawn off the skins after 3 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was
matured for 18 months in 80% new and 20% second fill 225L French Nevers
oak barrels.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS
2022 was the latest in the past 25 years, about 2 weeks later than normal. We had a
proper cold winter with enough rain, that resulted in budbreak that was 2 weeks
late. e earlier part of the season was quite cool, with December showing lower
maximum and minimum temperatures. January was more moderate with a couple
of hot days.We had slow ripening conditions that resulted in concentrated fruit
development and palate weight.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS
Warmer periods during the latter part of the winter resulted in some uneven
budding, flowering and fruit set. The moisture levels in the soils were
satisfactory throughout the growing and ripening phase, and very little
moisture stress was noticeable on the vines. The late start to the 2021 harvest
was one of the distinguishing hallmarks of this vintage. The cooler growing
conditions of the 2021 vintage produced elegant wines with softer tannin
structures that will make them accessible and drinkable from an earlier age.

FOOD PAIRING 

Spicy Asian-style dishes | Aromatic curries
Venison meat | Seared game fish | Duck