Mike Ratcliffe, Nic van Aarde, and their team have made a thoroughly drinkable wine. It has cocoa, cinnamon, and pepper top-notes from 14 months in oak barrels, but the real attractions are the concentrated, ripe black fruits including cherry, plum, and currant. While the wine has a weighty, glycerous quality that creates a very smooth, round mouthfeel, the dusty tannins and moderate acidity contribute texture on the finish. The wine is a delicious, supple and fine example of a key South African red grape.
Warwick Estate, Stellenbosch (South Africa) Pinotage 2009
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