# Kanonkop Estate Pinotage (2021)

- **Producer:** Kanonkop Estate
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinotage
- **Region:** Western Cape, South Africa
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.3%
- **Average price:** €41
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, black cherry, liquorice, ripe plum, blueberry, roasted nuts, cinnamon, vanilla, spicy oak, smoke

## About this wine

The Kanonkop Estate Pinotage 2021 is a red wine from Stellenbosch, South Africa, produced by Kanonkop Estate. It is made from 100% Pinotage grapes grown on old, dry-farmed bush vines. The estate is a family-run farm with a long history in the region, and the wine is a representation of the potential of the Pinotage varietal. The 2021 vintage was influenced by weather patterns that led to smaller berries and a more elegant wine profile.

## Interesting facts

- Pinotage is a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, created in South Africa in 1925.
- Kanonkop's name refers to a hill once used to fire a cannon to signal ships.
- The estate's Pinotage vines range from 32 to 67 years old.
- This wine is aged in French oak barrels, with a significant portion being new.

## Food pairing

The wine's full body and ripe tannins are well-suited to rich protein dishes, where they can cut through fat and complement the meat's texture. The dark fruit and spice notes in the wine can echo or contrast with the flavors of game, berries, and aromatic spices in the food.

## Wine making process

The 2021 Kanonkop Estate Pinotage is produced using grapes from old bush vines. Fermentation takes place in open concrete fermenters with manual punch-downs. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, with a high percentage of new oak. The harvest for this vintage was later than usual.