This wine has an interesting blend of black and red fruits, with a touch of vanilla, on the nose. There isn’t a hint of the dreaded Pinotage “burnt rubber” in this wine. It gets really interesting on the palate, throwing out layers of different flavors, one after another. It starts with tart black fruit, blackberry and a little elderberry, but within seconds the tart flavors shade to cranberry, then even more quickly sweetens to strawberry, joined by limestone and vanilla. This is a young Pinotage, with good acid, and lightly dusty tannins, that doesn’t have any off flavors that might magnify over time, suggesting it is a good candidate for half a dozen years or more in the cellar. This is a good wine at a great price. Drink with barbequed beef. Highly Recommended (91). DH
WHO: Lions Drift
WHAT: Pinotage
WHERE: Breede River Valley, South Africa
WHEN: 2009
HOW MUCH: $18 (Media sample)
