De Grendel Amandelboord Pinotage 2020

• Area: Durbanville
• Country: South Africa
• Varietal: Pinotage
• ABV: 15%
• Aging: 12 months in a combination of French and American Oak of which 12% was new oak.
• Style: Bold & fruity
• Wine maker: Charles Hopkins

Buy this wine because this is an exceptional addition to De Grendel’s flagship range. Released not only to celebrate the cellar’s 10th anniversary, but also made to honour Sir De Villiers Graaff’s grandfather and namesake, the 2nd Baronet, Sir De Villiers Graaff. Pinotage, especially if it was from the Durbanville Ward, was a favourite cultivar of his grandfather. The wine is inspired by fond memories of the Almond Orchard through which the young Sir De Villiers Graaff would go horse riding with his grandfather. This vintage is an intense, deep purple colour with a magenta meniscus. Maraschino cherries, black plums, prunes and banana-flavoured Wilson toffee aromas are depicted on the nose, followed by medium acidity and medium alcohol. Young tannins on the palate that will soften with age and aeration. A slight toastiness is detected on the mid-palate followed by sweet, stewed prunes.

It pairs great with  pepper-crusted seared tuna steaks, grilled aubergines stuffed with a tomato compote, a rack of  lamb straight from the grill, or char-grilled sticky beef short ribs