Bellevue Estate Reserve Pinotage 2021

Bellevue Estate Reserve Pinotage, Bottelary, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2021

Grape: 100% Pinotage, 30 year old bush vines, oak matured

Producer Tasting Note:

Rich and concentrated with violet and cedarwood perfume, leading to bold flavours of sweet-sour raspberry and maraschino cherry with a savoury umami undertone, supported by dense, fine-grained tannins with a clean, lingering finish. This is our richest, most powerful expression of South Africa’s national heritage grape, made from selected parcels of fruit from various older Pinotage blocks. A sleekly muscular wine with dense, concentrated fruit flavours polished by French oak.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Paprika, soy sauce and dark fruit on the nose. It’s medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins. A tarry and earthy finish. Drink now."

89/100 points, James Suckling, August 2025

"Sweet soy, liquorice, and cola aromas with lively wild fruit on an intense yet fresh palate."

87/100 points, Decanter World Wine Awards, January 2025

Also awarded DOUBLE GOLD, Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, 2925, and 5 Stars, Platter's S.A. Guide

Vineyard: A selection of the best parcels of fruit from old vineyards, all irrigated. Most vintages, grapes from a vineyard planted in 1996 are chosen. Situated on an eastern slope with a north-south row orientation, these bush vines flourish in decomposed granite and shale soils.

Winemaking: The grapes were cold soaked for four days before inoculation. Fermentation took place in tanks with three daily aerated pump-overs. After alcoholic fermentation, the skins were pressed, the wine was settled and racked off the lees. It underwent spontaneous malolactic fermentation in 300-litre French oak barrels (50% new, 50% second fill) and matured for 22 months.

Food Match: Calls for seriously well-aged red meat or the finest stinky cheeses!