Kanonkop Pinotage 2022 750ml

The 2022 vintage was the latest in 25 years, benefiting from a properly cold, wet winter. This led to a late budbreak and a cool start to the season, with moderate January temperatures. These slow ripening conditions were ideal, resulting in concentrated fruit and impressive palate weight.

Grapes were fermented at 28°C in open-top concrete fermenters, with skins hand-punched down every two hours. After just three days on skins, the juice was drawn off. Following malolactic fermentation, the wine matured for 18 months in 225L French Nevers oak barrels (80% new, 20% second fill), contributing to its complexity and structure.

This wine pours an opaque purple-red. The nose offers bold plums, blackberries, mulberries, with rich vanilla, smoke, and roasted nut layers. The palate is equally packed with plums, cherries, black figs, pomegranate, dark chocolate, blackberries, and spicy oak. Beautifully integrated, plush, creamy tannins combine with satisfying acidity for a wonderfully balanced wine with a long finish, promising excellent maturation potential.