Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2012

Dense opaque colour. Rich flavours of ripe black berries and maraschino cherries. Lavish mouthfeel which is encrusted with cedar oak spice. Youthful tannins sculpture the palate into a lingering dry finish.

Cape Malay bobotie, seared tuna, slow roasted belly of pork, oven roasted rack of lamb, crispy duck salad with hazelnut praline.

variety : Pinotage [ 100% Pinotage ]
winemaker : Johan Malan
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.54 % vol  rs : 2.15 g/l  pH : 3.66  ta : 5.2 g/l  
type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full   wooded
pack : Bottle  size : 750ml  closure : Cork  

AWARDS

2012
2015 Veritas: Double Gold
2015 Tim Atkins Report: 91 Points
2015 TOP 100 SA Wines
2014 Absa Top 10 Pinotage : Winner
2011
2014 Robert Parker: 92 Points
2015 John Platter Wine Guide: 4½ Stars
2014 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Competition: Gold Medal
2013 Veritas: Gold Medal
2010
2014 Robert Parker: 90 Points
2013 Veritas Wine Awards - Double Gold
2013 International Wine and Spirit Competition - Silver
2012 Veritas Wine Awards - Gold Medal
2012 ABSA Top 10 Pinotage finalist
2008
2012 The International Wine Review - scored 91 points
2011 Veritas Awards - Gold Medal
2010 Veritas - Gold Medal
2007
2011 Top 100 SA Wines Competition - Winner
2010 Platters Guide - 4½ stars
2009 Veritas - Gold Medal
2009 June Wine Magazine - 4½ stars

ageing : The gentle tannins provide the structure to age further for six to eight years after vintage.

Background
The first red wine Frans Malan, founder of Simonsig Wine Estate, released in 1970 was a Pinotage. In the early seventies he was a pioneer in using new small French oak barriques for his Pinotage. Today, the Redhill Pinotage is made from a vineyard grown on the famous Redhills of Simonsig Estate. The red soils originate from decomposed, weathered shale. It is regarded as the best soil for growing premium red wine, because of its excellent moisture retention capacity and good drainage.

Style of Wine
Full bodied, wood matured Pinotage from a dedicated vineyard site.

in the vineyard : The 2012 vintage will be remembered as a very dry year. A rainfall of only 469 mm was logged, 33% below our long term average and the lowest rainfall recorded since 1976. While yields were slightly lower than in 2011, cooler conditions resulted in better quality and more concentrated fruit from smaller berries. January and early February had their customary hot days in the mid-thirties, but the rest of the vintage was quite cool resulting in the ideal slow and even paced ripening. Pinotage is the stand out variety of the 2012 reds.

about the harvest: The harvest began at least 10 days later than usual and it took great patience and care not to pick the grapes too early. We tasted and harvested blocks in separate batches to ensure optimal flavour and tannin ripeness. The last Pinotage only came in on the 17th of March, leaving us, the winemakers, as nervous wrecks, but in the end our patience was rewarded with brilliant concentration of fruit.

in the cellar : 

Crushing and destemming to a combination of two open top fermenters and roto tanks. Fermentation temperature peaked at 29°C. Pressed after 6 days on the skins, alcoholic fermentation finished in the tank. Malolactic fermentation occurred partially in tank and new barrels. Wine received 5 rackings before bottling.

Wood Maturation
17 months oaking.78% French oak, 22% American white oak. 89% New oak and 11% third fill.

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