Spice Route Pinotage, Swartland, South Africa, 75cl

Spice Route Swartland Pinotage is a South African red wine made from Pinotage grown on unirrigated bush vines in the Swartland. It pairs ripe dark fruit with cedar, smoke and spice, while bright acidity and smooth tannins keep the full-bodied style fresh rather than heavy. It is a polished, modern take on the grape.

About the winery

Spice Route is a Swartland winery founded by Charles Back of Fairview, built around dry-grown, unirrigated bush vines in a warm, arid corner of the Western Cape. The winery owns its vineyards, about 100 hectares in Malmesbury and Darling, and winemaker Charl du Plessis has worked alongside Charles Back since 2002.

How it’s made

The fruit comes from a single block of bush vines on Koffieklip soils, a ferricrete derived from decomposed Paardeberg granite. It is fermented in open concrete tanks with twice-daily punch-downs, then matured in tight-grain American oak barrels, 30% of them new, with a small portion aged in underground clay pots before blending.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Blackcurrant and ripe cherry, with dark spice, cedar and a hint of smoky oak.
• Palate: Dark berry and stone fruit, lifted by fresh acidity, with smooth, supple tannins and a touch of sweet vanilla oak.
• Finish: Long and persistent, with lingering spice and a hint of smoke.

How to enjoy it

Serve Spice Route Pinotage at around 16–18°C in a large red wine glass. It is a natural match for braai-style grilled meats, sausages, lamb and hearty stews, and its smoky fruit also suits barbecued vegetables and mature hard cheeses.

Details

• Type: Red wine
• Region / origin: Swartland, Western Cape, South Africa
• Producer: Spice Route
• Grape: Pinotage
• ABV: 14%
• Volume: 75cl

Please drink responsibly. This product is intended for customers aged 18 and over.