2021 Olifantsberg Pinotage

Less than an hour's drive from Cape Town, in the heart of South Africa's Breedekloof wine region, lies Olifantsberg Family Vineyards. This small, five-hectare estate has been owned by the Dutch Leeuwerik family since 2003. The Olifantsberg vineyards are situated on the slopes of the Brandwacht Mountains. Thanks to the high altitude and the almost constant wind, there is a cool microclimate. Ideal conditions for the production of top-quality grapes! The vineyard is managed with respect for nature. The vines are organically fertilized, and the yield in the vineyard is deliberately kept low. All this with the aim of harvesting optimally ripe, healthy, and concentrated, high-quality grapes. After being harvested by hand, these grapes are taken to the newly built vinification cellar. Here, too, winemaker Elizma Visse lets nature take its course. After crushing the grapes, a traditional maceration process follows, and then the grapes are fermented. They are then aged in oak barrels, approximately one-third of which are replaced annually. This ensures that Olifantsberg wines are perfectly balanced, with a beautifully balanced oak aroma and flavor.

The philosophy behind this Pinotage from Olifantsberg is to craft this unique South African varietal, prioritizing elegance and freshness over the many overripe, heavy, high-alcohol Pinotages we unfortunately see too often from mass producers. This Pinotage puts the grape itself at the center. The wine is composed of 82.5% Pinotage, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon to give it that extra touch of complexity and bite. The wines were aged for a year in 2000L oak foudres and 300L French oak barrels. The wine was harvested cluster-wise (i.e., each specific location within a vineyard), fermented and aged separately, and only blended at bottling to achieve the Pinotage Paul and Elizma desire.

The wine is a beautiful dark red in the glass. This Pinotage surprises both on the nose and palate. It's very fresh with lovely fruit, lacking the rubbery, animalic notes common to many other Pinotages. It's velvety smooth like a Pinot Noir, with notes of cherry, mulberry, and eucalyptus. The wine has fine-grained yet ripe tannins and a hint of bitterness. It's excellent to drink now but can easily age for another seven years. It's recommended to enjoy this Pinotage slightly chilled (around 16°C).

Tim Atkin: 92/100