DWWA 2014 Regional Trophy: South African Red Single-Varietal under £15

This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for South African Single-Varietal Red under £15 went to Durbanville Hills, Rhinofields Pinotage, Tygerberg 2012 (14%)

Tasted against:

• No other Golds in this category

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The Durbanville Hills winery was established at the end of the 1990s as a joint initiative between seven grape farms and South Africa’s drinks giant Distell.

Wilhelm Coetzee joined the company in 2008 and is responsible for all of Durbanville Hills’ red wines; previously he was head winemaker at Flagstone.

Of this Trophy-winner, he says: ‘The 2012 Rhinofields Pinotage is a fine example of how the conditions of the Durbanville area – with its unique set of rolling hills, maritime breezes and soil composition – promote quality and elegance. This is a typical, cool-climate Pinotage, with beautiful red fruit expression.’

Coetzee feels this wine is more like its Pinot Noir parent (Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault) due to the vines being grown on northwest-facing slopes in the warmer area of Durbanville.

Cellarmaster at Durbanville Hills is Martin Moore, who has worked at the estate since its very beginning. Following a stint in the army, he studied viticulture and winemaking at university and, at the tender age of 27, found himself senior cellar master at the country’s then leading co-operative KWV, in charge of its white, red and fortified wines.

Written by Decanter