Simonsig, Stellenbosch (South Africa) Pinotage 2016

Jan 29, 2019

By Rich Cook

 Perhaps second to Merlot in the “unfairly maligned varieties” category, Pinotage is in fact capable of producing some quality wine, as is the case with this budget friendly bottling.  The most common complaint I hear is about an iodine character, and while I’ve tasted some examples, there’s none of it present here — just bright black cherry fruit, bay leaf and gentle brown spice, with great acidity, moderate grip and a long, blooming finish where some earthy notes dance among the fruit, herb and spice.  Duck confit fans — give this a whirl. 

Country / Region

South Africa

Appellation

Stellenbosch

Grape Variety

Pinotage

Color

Red

Vintage

2016

Score

90

Price

US $ 18.00

Producer

Simonsig