Pinotage often gets a bad rap, but the tasting team at Decanter.com has found five delicious examples for your wine rack...

South African Pinotage , a crossing of Cinsault and Pinot Noir, polarises opinion and is either a love it or hate it wine.

But, wine expert Tim Atkin recently argued in ‘Pinotage to change your mind’ that the grape can still make great wines.

See below for more examples of Pinotage wines to try, picked by Decanter’s expert tasting team.

South African Pinotage: 5 to try

Read more about Pinotage at Decanter.com:

• Pinotage to change your mind

• Award winning Pinotage

South Africa 2008: Keep

Cool, rainy, labour intensive vintage culminating in ideal ripening weather. Inconsistent quality, but ripe, elegant, well balanced reds from top growers.

4/5

Weather Conditions

Almost twice-normal rainfall introduced a long, cold winter: of ‘biblical proportions’ in Constantia, though Klein Karoo was much drier. Root growth was sluggish and budburst up to two weeks later than expected. The rains continued through spring, and canopy management – aerating vines, resisting fungal disease – was vital. Gusty winds encouraged healthy vineyards in some regions but also curtailed flowering – in Stellenbosch in particular.

Cool summer temperatures and yet more rain brought mildew, rot and even berry splitting among early varietals, all necessitating further intensive canopy control. Also highly prioritised in some areas – green harvesting, to promote even ripening. .

The atypically inclement weather delayed harvest up to a fortnight. Then, mid-autumn was glorious; ripening gathered momentum – bringing headaches as many varietals were ready simultaneously. Pressure continued in the cellars, separating rotten fruit from healthy berries.

Best Appellations

Wide variations, but where growers succeeded, there’s good phenolic ripeness, great purity of fruit, supple tannins – with notably lower alcohol than other blockbuster vintages. Defining characteristic: elegance.

Merlot stars in several areas in South Africa . Excellent colour, fruit and structure from Robertson, and pure fruit flavours and racy acidity from Cape Agulhas in Overberg. Constantia too has well-balanced Merlots with impressive fruit expression. .

Of later varietals, best Cabernet Sauvignon is fully ripe, full-bodied, sleek, with high natural acidity. Stellenbosch promises deeply coloured, very approachable examples, and the best from Paarl have good concentration and ageing potential. Top Shiraz is spicy, peppery, deep coloured, with bright fruit and ripe tannins. Paarl’s is particularly Rhône-like; Stellenbosch fresh and concentrated.

For Pinot Noir, Elgin shines – fine tannins, good fruit and aromatics, with bright acidity. Swartland’s Mourvedre and Grenache are ‘best for ages’.

Best Producers

Good bets so far include: STELLENBOSCH: Hidden Valley, Simonsig, Ernie Els Wines, Kanonkop, Luis Nel, Spier, KWV, Kleine Zalze; PAARL: Lisha Nelson; SWARTLAND: Spice Route; FRANSCHHOEK: Chamonix; HEMEL-EN-AARDE: Hamilton Russell; ELGIN: Oak Valley; WELLINGTON: Doolhof Wine Estate

South Africa 2007: Keep

Challenging season producing wines with great colour and aroma intensity, big, complex structures and the potential for opulence. Rhône styles show great finesse.

4/5

Weather Conditions

A fine start to the season: a cold winter put the vines into proper, restful dormancy while a cool, wet spring with soft, soaking rains replenished ground water reserves nicely. Budbreak was strong and even, and there was good cluster formation, with smallish berries.

All change, though, with a sudden surge in temperatures late January. The mini heatwave threatened acid balance in earlier-ripening Merlot and Pinot Noir in particular, though burning was largely avoided by careful canopy management. Cooler coastal regions and vineyards on deeper soils were largely unaffected.

Ripening was precocious by 10 to 14 days, with the harvest finishing end of March. Merlot, Pinotage and Pinot Noir were picked hastily before cooler weather slowed the pace, while later-ripening Shiraz and Cabernet revelled in the extra hang time cooling February rains and more moderate temperatures afforded. Yields were a smidgeon down on 2006’s plentiful harvest.

Best Appellations

Cooler, fresher weather later in the season benefited later-ripening, thicker-skinned Shiraz and Cabernet in particular. After January’s heatwave it slowed down ripening and concentrated flavours while allowing growers to pick at just the right moment. Colour and fruit concentration are impressive, and the best wines are full, complex, even opulent.

The heatwave barely touched cooler coastal regions like Walker Bay, Elgin, Cape Point and Constantia, and Shiraz and Cabernet have notably good tannic structure. Pinotage and Pinot Noir performed well, showing finesse, balance and expressive flavours.

Further west in Darling, Pinotage is promising, both as rosé and red, and Shiraz from Swartland is likely to stand out for its spicy, peppery character. Paarl had one of its best-ever growing seasons, with the cool conditions resulting in good natural acidity. Expect fresh, elegant wines from this region.

Best Producers

Not sufficiently tasted as yet (Cabernets in particular) put best examples so far include Allee Bleue (Western Cape); Spice Route, Fairview, Sadie Family Vineyards (Swartland); Boekenhoutskloof, Goats do Roam (Coastal Region); La Motte, La

Vigne (Frankschhoek); Lazanou (Wellington); Hamilton Russell (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley); Bouchard Finlayson, Southern Right (Walker Bay); De Grendel (Durbanville); Raats Family (Stellenbosch).

South Africa 2006: Drink soon

Bordering on an outstanding vintage. Incredibly well-balanced wines, with great depth and fruit purity for drinking in short to medium-term.

4/5

Weather Conditions

Forecasts of a bumper harvest were unfounded, though it still came in 6% up on 2005. Early-summer winds (gale force in Western Cape) and heat waves late February (notably Stellenbosch) cut expected yields, as did water shortages in Olifants River, Little Karoo and Worcester.

Though dehydrating, the winds were largely welcomed, reducing berry size and concentrating flavours. A cold, wet winter and cool, damp spring meant soils were in good shape to withstand drying-out, and budset and ripening were mostly good, if a little uneven for Shiraz (Western Cape and Robertson in particular). Shiraz – and to a lesser extent Merlot – saw patchy ripening too, putting the emphasis on careful and selective harvesting.

Physiological ripeness occurred at low-ish sugar levels, and Merlot was often picked later than usual to ensure sufficient accumulation. Later-ripening varietals benefited from the mid/late summer heat spikes, and a burst of very hot weather late April/early May spelt the end of the harvest.

Best Appellations

Most regions claim well-balanced, weighty and flavoursome reds. Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is a likely stand out, and Petit Verdot from Robertson. Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz are looking good across the board, and Malbec and Mourvèdre are showing fine varietal flavour.

Watch out for Franschhoek reds, notably Shiraz, for their fine colour and flavours and good ageing potential. Also Durbanville Pinotage: ripe tannins and modest alcohol. Elgin Pinot Noir has a cooler-climate character in 2006 – chilly nights and warm days created small but not overly ripe berries. Rhone varietals stand out.

Best Producers

Guardian Peak (Western Cape); Newton-Johnson (Walker Bay); Amani Vineyards (Stellenbosch); Cederberg (Cederberg); De Trafford (Stellenbosch); Englebrecht Els (Stellenbosch); Escapade Winery (Stellenbosch); Durbanville Hills (Durbanville); Excelsoir Estate (Robertson); Boekenhoutskloof (Franschhoek), Lynx (Franschhoek); Southern Right (Walker Bay); Saronsberg (Coastal Region); Elgin Vintners (Elgin)

South Africa 2005: Keep

Many reports point to the see-saw weather conditions, especially in the weeks running up to the harvest

3/5

Weather Conditions

Many reports point to the see-saw weather conditions, especially in the weeks running up to the harvest. In Stellenbosch, South Africa’s main wine region, warm and dry weather was experienced up to January. This helped the flowering, set and ripening process as well as relieving disease pressure on the vines although some vineyards will have experienced vine stress due to the drought.

‘We were blown away by the precocity of the vintage, almost the earliest at Klein Constantia,’ said winemaker Adam Mason, ‘and this year we have almost a degree of alcohol to boot.’

A heatwave hit Stellenbosch in in the middle of January, followed by cool spell and thunderstorms a week later. This delayed the harvest and helped to bring the speed of ripening down a little.

‘The red varieties on unirrigated sites benefited greatly from the rain,’ said Warwick Estate winemaker Louis Nel.

To the north, the Olifants River Valley seems to have been spared the thunderstorms and the climate has remained generally warm throughout. Walker Bay has experienced a similar weather pattern to Stellenbosch, about 75km north-west.

Best Appellations

Best Producers

South Africa 2004: Drink soon

Variable wines. Some will be elegant with higher acidity and lower alcohol than those from more classic South African vintages; others will be fuller bodied and robust

3/5

Weather Conditions

A generally cooler and drier winter than normal – Paarl experienced less than half the normal rainfall – however this did not affect the ripening process to a great degree.

‘Although the cold spells during early winter were not ideal, the critical flowering and berry set stages went off beautifully owing to good rains in late winter and early spring,’ said Nicolette de Kock of Stellenbosch. The cooler weather earlier in the season accounts for many producers making wines that are more European in style with lower alcohol and higher acidity. Other producers with vineyards where better ripening conditions took place expect full-bodied wines with good ageing potential.

Best Appellations

Best Producers

South Africa 2003: Drink soon

Full-bodied, fruity and full of flavour

4/5

Weather Conditions

Despite obvious regional variation, the 2003 harvest was generally long and slow. A chilly spring in most regions saw delayed budding and slow shoot growth, at least in some varieties, and ripening temperatures were generally lower than usual. In Stellenbosch the average temperature for the critical four months Dec-Mar was at least 6°C down on the same period last year. This, combined with the region’s drier summer, resulted in smaller berries with excellent skin to pulp ratios.

Despite the generally cool ripening and harvest temperatures – and a marked lack of rain January to February – above average rainfall occurred towards the end of March in many regions. In Stellenbosch, the rain combined with dewy nights caused Botrytis and rot in some late ripening Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. Elsewhere, though, earlier dry weather kept rot and mildew at bay while March rains provided much needed relief plus the extra time needed for grapes to ripen sufficiently on the vine.

Best Appellations

Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swartland

Best Producers

South Africa 2002: Keep

Elegant, flavourful reds

3/5

Weather Conditions

High humidity conspired with mild early/mid-season conditions to turn the first cool year since 1997 into an incubator for widespread mildew and rot. A late-February heatwave provided some respite, but also caused sugar levels to peak ahead of physical maturity, resulting in some under-ripe wines. Rapid onset of cool autumn weather favoured late-harvested and botrytised whites but hampered late-ripening reds such as Cabernet, especially virus-affected clones. Ability to cope with extreme conditions is the key to this challenging vintage, and purchasers should be guided more by growers’ track records than particular varieties or sites.

Best Appellations

Constantia, Paarl/Franschhoek/Wellington, Robertson, Stellenbosch (Helderberg, Simonsberg-Helshoogte, Bottelary, Devon Valley), Swartland, Tygerberg/Durbanville, Walker Bay.

Best Producers

The first good bottlings of 2002 came from the following: Allée Bleue, Franschhoek (Pinotage); Bellevue, Stellenbosch (Pinotage); Bon Courage, Robertson (Shiraz); Coleraine, Paarl (two ‘Culraithin’ wines: Cab S & Syrah); Devon Hill, Stellenbosch (Cab S); Diemersfontein, Wellington (‘regular’ & ‘Carpe Diem’ Shiraz; ‘Carpe Diem’ Pinotage); Erica Vineyards, Walker Bay (Raka ‘Quinary’ classic blend Cab S & F, Merlot, Malbec, Petit V); Fairview, Paarl (‘Primo’ Pinotage; Merlot; ‘SMV’ blend Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Viognier; Carignan); Flagstone, Helderberg (‘Bowwood’ blend Cab S, Merlot); Glen Carlou, Paarl (Shiraz); Havana Hills, Tygerberg (‘Du Plessis’ classic blend Cab S, Merlot); Kevin Arnold, Stellenbosch (Shiraz); Lammershoek Winery, Swartland (‘Roulette’ blend Shiraz, Carignan, Grenache, Viognier); Luddite, Walker Bay (Shiraz); Muratie, Stellenbosch (Shiraz); Rijk’s Private Cellar, Tulbagh (Pinotage); Slaley, Stellenbosch (Pinotage, Shiraz); Southern Right, Walker Bay (Pinotage); Vins D’Orrance, Stellenbosch (Syrah); Wamakersvallei Winery, Wellington (‘La Cave’ Pinotage).

South Africa 2001: Keep

Excellent structure with a balance of ripe, complex fruit

4/5

Weather Conditions

The fourth consecutive very hot vintage in South Africa , one of the driest on record, and, at just 760 million litres, the smallest since 1987. Compact, ripe, healthy berries yielded vigorous wines with big flavours and alcohols. Some excellent Cabs, Syrahs/Shirazes, Bordeaux-style blends and ‘Cape Blends’ with pinotage. Generally, more juice and more approachability than 2000, and less of that vintage’s gripping tannins. Superior structure and balance suggest 2001 should age beyond the envisaged 6-7 year span of the previous vintage.

Best Appellations

Constantia, Darling, Paarl/Franschhoek/Wellington, Robertson, Stellenbosch (Helderberg, Simonsberg-Helshoogte, Bottelary), Swartland, Tygerberg/Durbanville, Walker Bay.

Best Producers

The top wines of 2001 came from the following: Beyerskloof, Stellenbosch (‘Synergy Reserve’ blend Pinotage, Cab S, Merlot; Reserve Pinotage; ‘Beyerskloof’ classic blend Cab S, Merlot); Bon Courage, Robertson (Shiraz); Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek (Cab S; Syrah); Bouchard Finlayson, Walker Bay (Pinot Noir); De Toren, Stellenbosch (‘Fusion V’ classic blend Cab S & F, Malbec, Merlot, Petit V); De Trafford, Stellenbosch (Shiraz); Diemersfontein, Wellington (Pinotage, Shiraz); Ernie Els, Stellenbosch (classic blend – Cab S & F, Merlot, Petit V, Malbec); Fairview, Paarl (‘SMV’ blend Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Viognier; ‘Goat Roti’ blend Shiraz, Grenache, Carignan, Viognier; ‘Solitude’ Shiraz); Groot Constantia, Constantia (Merlot); Guardian Peak, Stellenbosch (‘SMG’ blend Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache); Glen Carlou, Paarl (Shiraz; ‘Grand Classique’ blend Cab S, Merlot); Hartenberg, Stellenbosch (Cab S; Merlot; Syrah); Kaapzicht, Stellenbosch (‘Steytler’ Pinotage); Groote Post, Darling (Shiraz); Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Walker Bay (Pinot Noir); Havana Hills, Tygerberg (‘Du Plessis Reserve’ Shiraz); Kanonkop, Stellenbosch (Pinotage); Kevin Arnold, Stellenbosch (Shiraz); Le Riche, Stellenbosch (classic blend Cab S, Merlot); Linton Park, Wellington (‘River Garden’ Merlot); Ridgeback Wines, Paarl (Shiraz); Overgaauw, Stellenbosch (‘Tria Corda’ classic blend Cab S & F, Merlot); Rustenberg, Stellenbosch (‘Peter Barlow’ Cab S; ‘John X Merriman’ classic blend Merlot, Cab S & F); Sadie Family Wines, Swartland (Shiraz); Spice Route, Swartland (‘Flagship’ Pinotage); Springfield (‘Work of Time’ classic blend Merlot, Cab S & F, Petit V); The Foundry, Stellenbosch/Paarl (Syrah); The Observatory, Swartland (Syrah); Tukulu, Darling (Pinotage); Uiterwyk, Stellenbosch (‘DeWaal Top of the Hill’ Pinotage); Vergelegen, Helderberg (Cab S; ‘Vergelegen’ Auction Reserve classic blend Cab S & F, Merlot); Wamakersvallei Winery, Wellington (three ‘La Cave’ wines: Cab S, Pinotage & Shiraz).

South Africa 2000: Keep

Ripest, most generous vintage in many years, with big, burly, quick-maturing reds

3/5

Weather Conditions

The third consecutive very hot vintage. (For a number of producers, literally and spectacularly hot: huge mountain fires singed vineyards around the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch region, just before harvest. But the vast majority of Cape red wine labels were unaffected by the fires.) Initially hailed as the ripest, most generous vintage in many years, it made for big, burly reds, probably maturing quite quickly. Very high alcohols – nearing 15% in some cases. As wines were readied for blending and bottling, the vintage showed less fruit concentration and finesse than initially expected. Most probably best drunk within six or seven years of the vintage. The high alcohols will ‘keep’ the wines rather than improve them.

Best Appellations

Constantia, Helderberg, Durbanville, Walker Bay, Simonsberg-Helshoogte-Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Darling, Swartland.

Best Producers

The first good bottlings of 2000 came from the following: Devon Hill, Stellenbosch (Cab S, Pinotage, Merlot); Laborie Estate, Paarl (Cab S); Devonair, Stellenbosch (Cab); Uiterwyk, Stellenbosch (Cab F, Pinotage); Stony Brook, Franschhoek ( Reserve Cab S, Pinotage); Avontuur, Helderber (Cab F); Buitenverwachting, Constantia (Merlot); Coopolse Finlayson, Stellenbosch (Merlot); Havana Hills, Durbanville (Du Plessis Reserve Merlot, Du Plessis Reserve Shiraz); Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Walker Bay (Pinot Noir); Fairview Primo, Paarl (Pinotage); L’Avenir, Stellenbosch (Pinotage); Tukulu (Pinotage); Bartho Eksteen, Walker Bay (Shiraz); Steenberg, Constantia (Shiraz); Slaley, Stellenbosch (Broken Stone Pinotage, Shiraz); Stonewall, Helderberg (Pinotage); Boland Winery, Paarl (Shiraz); Gilga, Stellenbosch (Shiraz); Muratie, Stellenbosch (Shiraz); Blaauwklippen, Stellenbosch (Barouche blend – Cab S, Shiraz, Pinotage); Kaapzicht, Stellenbosch (Steytler blend – Pinotage, Cab S, Merlot); Lanzerac, Stellenbosch (Classic blend – Cab S & F, Malbec); Morgenhof, Stellenbosch (blend – Cab S & F)

Most regular Cape red wine flagbearers have yet to release their 2000s. Watch for:

Cabernets and Cab-based blends: Rustenberg, Rust en Vrede, Thelema, Veenwouden, De Toren, Delaire, Boukenhoutskloof, De Trafford, Grangehurst, Kanu, Le Riche, Neil Ellis, Saxenburg, Vergelegen, Waterford, Veenwouden, Cordoba, Delaire, Flagstone, Avontuur, Jordan.

Merlot: Overgaauw, Jordan, Morgenhof, Spice Route, Veenwouden, Thelema, Villiera Reserve, Delaire, Hartenberg.

Shiraz/Syrahs: Boukenhotshkloof, Fairview, Delheim Vera Cruz, De Trafford, Kevin Arnold, Neil Ellis, Saxenburg Select, Hartenberg, Stellenzicht, Graham Beck.

Pinot Noir: Bouchard-Finlayson, De Trafford, Newton-Johnson, Glen Carlou

Pinotage: Simonsig, Kanonkop, Hidden Valley, Bellingham Spitz, Beaumont.

Mourvedre: Fairview, Beaumont

South Africa 1999: Keep

A small crop. Pinotage performed well

3/5

Weather Conditions

An inauspicious start, with relatively warm winter, with early budding, but a cool snap during flowering cut yields in some varieties – notably pinotage – to concentrate fruit and raise quality. An intermittent, two-month heatwave just before harvest made for a second year of big reds, though 1999s less fruity and plump than 1998s.

Best Appellations

Coastal and ‘Mountain’ regions: Constantia, Helderberg, Durbanville, Walker Bay, Bot River, Simonsberg-Helshoogte-Stellenbosch, Elgin, Franschhoek and the ‘Atlantic Fringe’ along the West Coast (Darling, Swartland, Vredendal, Cederberg).

Best Producers

Vergelegen (Cabernet Sauvignon and estate Bordeaux blend and Syrah); Kanonkop (Pinotage and Paul Sauer estate Bordeaux blend,); Havana Hills (Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot); Grangehurst (Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot); Rust en Vrede (Estate Wine and Merlot); Thelema (Cabernet and Merlot); Vera Cruz (Shiraz); Veenwouden (‘Classic’ Bordeaux blend and Merlot); Cordoba (Crescendo – Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend); Spice Route (Merlot and Syrah); Le Riche (Reserve Cabernet); Morgenhof (Merlot and Premiere Selection, Bordeaux blend); Saxenberg (Private Collection Merlot, PC Syrah); Newton-Johnson (Pinot Noir); Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir; Neil Ellis (Reserve Cabernet and Shiraz); Boekenhoutskloof (Syrah and Cabernet); L’Avenir (Cabernet and Pinotage) Radford Dale (Merlot); Fairview Shiraz; Hidden Valley Pinotage; Kaapzicht Pinotage; Rustenberg (Peter Barlow Cab. Sauvignon and Rustenberg Estate Bordeaux blend); Stellenzicht Syrah; Steenberg Merlot; Graham Beck (The Ridge Shiraz and Old Road Pinotage); Waterford (Kevin Arnold Shiraz); Villiera (Shiraz and Cru Monro Bordeaux Blend); Welgemeend, Estate Bordeaux blend; De Trafford (Estate Reserve Bordeaux blend).

South Africa 1998: Keep

A tricky, early vintage. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon produced the most successful wines

3/5

Weather Conditions

After localized frosts, a hot, dry season and heat-waves at start of harvest in January; a short season, with low yields but healthy grapes. Big, booming, flavoursome reds, for keeping.

Best Appellations

Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Swartland, Constantia, Durbanville, Robertson.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: Bouwland (Pinotage); Delheim (Shiraz); De Trafford (Cab. & Shiraz & Merlot & BordeauxRes.); Eikendal (Merlot); Grangehurst Cab. Merlot & Pinotage & Bordeaux blend Nikela); Hazendal (Cab.Shiraz); J.P. Bredell (Shiraz, Pinotage); Kaapzicht (Pinotage, Steytler range & Pinotage Res); Kanonkop (Pinotage); Kleine Zalze (Shiraz); Lievland (Shiraz & Bordeaux blend, DVB); Slaley (Shiraz). Radford Dale (Merlot); De Trafford (Shiraz); Stellenzicht (Pinotage, Syrah). Vergelegen (Cab. & Merlot & Bordeaux blend Vergelegen); Vriesenhof (Pinotage); Waterford (Kevin Arnold Shiraz & Cabernet); Close Malverne (Cab.Pinotage blend).

Franschhoek: Bellingham (Cab. Franc. & Pinotage); Boschendal (Shiraz); Cabriere (Pinot Noir); Rickety Bridge (Shiraz).

Paarl: Amani (Pinotage) Berg & Brook (Pinotage Res. & Merlot); Fairview (Pinotage, Amos & Shiraz).

Paarl (Wellington): Venwouden (Bordeaux blend Classic & Merlot).

Swartland: Spice Route (Flagships Syrah & Pinotage).

Constantia: Steenberg (Merlot).

Durbanville: Diemersdal (Pinotage).

Robertson: Graham Beck (Shiraz, The Ridge).

South Africa 1997: Keep

The top producers overcame difficult conditions to make concentrated, yet well-balanced wines

3/5

Weather Conditions

Among the longest ever seasons in South Africa – harvesting continued into April-May in the experience of winemakers; also among the coolest, including some mid-season showers, with long hang-times lengthening ripening. Many picked too early (greener tannins, thinner wines); those who waited were rewarded with some impressive, rich, if sometimes too-alcoholic, wines.

Best Appellations

Stellenbosch, Paarl, Constantia, Swartland, Franschhoek, Walker Bay.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: J.P. Bredell (Shiraz); Le Riche Wines (Cab. Res. & Cab.); Saxenburg PC (“Super” Shiraz & Merlot); Simonsig (Shiraz Res. & Pinotage, Red Hill); Grangehurst (Cab. Merlot & Pinotage); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend Rubicon & Pinot Noir Res.); Hidden Valley (Pinotage); Kanonkop (Pinotage, Bordeaux blend Paul Sauer & Cab.); L’Avenir (Pinotage & Bordeaux blend, L’Ami Simon & Cab.); Thelema (Cab.S & Merlot); Beyerskloof (Bordeaux blend); Uiterwyk (“Top of the Hill” Pinotage); Zevenwacht (Pinotage); Fleur du Cap * (Merlot); Kaapzicht (Pinotage Res.); Laibach (Pinotage); Simonsig (Pinotage); Sonop * (Pinotage); Slaley (Shiraz Res.); Stellenzicht (Syrah & Stellenzicht Bordeaux blend); Neil Ellis (Cab.Res. & Cab. & Cab. Merlot); Clos Malverne (Pinotage Res.); Delaire (Merlot); Delheim (Bordeaux blend, Grand Res. & Cab.); De Trafford (Cab. & Merlot); Vriesenhof (Bordeaux blend Kallista); Jordan (Merlot Res.); Lievland (Bordeaux blend, DVB); Middelvlei (Shiraz); Rustenberg (Cab. Peter Barlow & Bordeaux blend Rustenberg Estate); Rust-en-Vrede (Shiraz); Warwick (Bordeaux blend, Trilogy); Zonnebloem (Shiraz); Knorhoek (Cab, Pinotage); Martin Meinert (Cab-Merlot); Vergenoegd (Shiraz).

Constantia: Klein Constantia (Shiraz).

Walker Bay: Bouchard-Finlayson (Pinot Noir Galpin Peak & Tête de Cuvée); Hamilton Russell (Pinot Noir & Ashbourne P.N.); Southern Right (Pinotage).

Franschhoek: Boukenhoutskloof (Syrah); Bellingham (Cab.Premium & Pinotage); Cabriere (Pinot Noir); Boschendal (Shiraz); Rickety Bridge (Shiraz).

Swartland: Swartland Coop (Shiraz); Darling Cellars (Cab.).

Paarl: Villiera (Pinotage Res.) Savanha (Pinotage Res.); Backberg (Shiraz); Fairview (Shiraz, Cyril Back); Welgemeend (Bordeaux blend, Res.).

Paarl (Wellington): Veenwouden (Bordeaux blend Classic & Merlot).

South Africa 1996: Drink soon

An unexciting vintage with few wines of note

2/5

Weather Conditions

An unusually cool season in South Africa, interspersed with showers, ending with record yields and, generally, a dip in fruit quality, specially for reds harvested mid- to late-season, such as Cabernet. Lighter, quicker maturing wines.

Best Appellations

Stellenbosch, Swartland, Paarl, Durbanville, Walker Bay, Franschhoek.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: J.P. Bredell (Shiraz, Pinotage); Saxenburg PC (Shiraz & Cab. & Pinotage); Stellenzicht (Shiraz); Beyerskloof (Bordeaux blend & Cab. & Pinotage); Cordoba (Bordeaux blend, Crescendo & Merlot); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend, Paul Sauer); L’Avenir (Cab. & Pinotage); Rustenberg (Cab. Peter Barlow & Bordeaux blend Rustenberg Estate); Uiterwyk (Bordeaux blend); Kaapzicht (Cab.); Le Bonheur (Cab. & Bordeaux blend Prima); Neil Ellis (Cab.); Thelema (Cab.) Jordan (Merlot); Hartenberg (Merlot); Overgaauw (Merlot) Uitkyk (Pinotage).Hidden Valley (Pinotage); Kaapzicht (Pinotage); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend, Merlot, Pinot Noir Res.); Le Riche Wines (Cab. Res.); Eikendal (Cab. Res.); Fleur du Cap (Cab.& Merlot, Unfiltered Collection); Middelvlei (Shiraz, Pinotage); Morgenhof (Merlot, Bordeaux blend, Première Selection); Neethlingshof (Bordeaux blend, Lord Neethling). Rust-en-Vrede (Shiraz & Cab.- dominated blend); Warwick (Pinotage, Old Bush Vine).

Durbanville: Bloemendal (Merlot).

Swartland: Allesverloren (Shiraz); Swartland Co-op (Shiraz).

Paarl: KWV Cathedral Cellar (Shiraz & Pinotage & Cab. & Cab. Franc & Bordeaux blend Tripych); Glen Carlou (Bordeaux blend Grande Classique & Pinot Noir); Villiera (Bordeaux blend, Cru Monro).

Franschhoek: Bellingham (Pinotage & Cab. Franc); La Motte (Shiraz).

Paarl: Wellington – Veenwouden (Bordeaux blend Classic).

Walker Bay: Hamilton Russell Vineyard (Pinot Noir); Whalehaven (Pinot Noir); Bouchard-Finlayson (Galpin Peak Pinot Noir).

South Africa 1995: Drink soon

A low-yielding vintage produced good-quality, well-structured wines

4/5

Weather Conditions

The second successive hot and dry year in South Africa , with low yields and small berries for dense, chunky fruit and often grunty alcohols, good for keeping; generally friendlier tannins than previous year.

Best Appellations

Walker Bay, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl (& Wellington) Durbanville, Constantia.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: Hartenberg (Shiraz & Merlot); Saxenburg PC (Shiraz); Cordoba (Bordeaux blend, Crescendo); Le Bonheur (Bordeaux blend, Prima & Cab.); Alto (Cab. & “Rouge” blend); Glen Carlou (Bordeaux blend, Grande Classique); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend, Paul Sauer & Pinotage); Vriesenhof (Cab.); Grangehurst (Cab.S & Cab. Merlot & Pinotage) Kaapzicht (Cab.); Thelema (Cab.S & Merlot); Rozendal (Bordeaux blend); Simonsig (Bordeaux blend, Tiara & Frans Malan Res.); Saxenburg PC (Cab. & Pinotage & Merlot & Shiraz); Fleur du Cap (Merlot); Jordan (Merlot); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend, Rubicon) Warwick (Merlot & Pinotage & Bordeaux blend Trilogy & Cab. Franc); Uiterwyk (Pinotage); Stellenzicht (Merlot & Shiraz & Syrah); Morgenhof (Cab. Merlot & Merlot); Neil Ellis (Cab. Merlot); Vergenoegd (Estate blend,Res); Brampton (Cab); De Trafford (Cab.); Overgaauw (Merlot); Verglegen (Merlot); Beyerskloof (Pinotage); Blaauwklippen (Shiraz); Jacobsdal (Pinotage); L’Avenir (Cab. & Pinotage).

Paarl: KWV Cathedral Cellar * (Cab. & Bordeaux blend, & Merlot); Fairview (Cab. & Pinotage Cyrul Back & Shiraz); Villiera (Bordeaux blend, Cru Monro); Simonsvlei (Shiraz); Plaisir de Merle (Cab.); Laborie (Pinotage).

Franschhoek: Bellingham (Merlot & Pinotage & Shiraz & Cab. Franc); Moreson (Merlot); Haute Provence (Cab.).

Wellington (Paarl): Veenwouden (Bordeaux blend, Classic & Merlot).

Walker Bay: Hamilton Russell Vineyards (Pinot Noir); Southern Right (Pinotage).

Durbanville: Altydgedacht (Pinotage).

Constantia: Buitenverwachting (Bordeaux blend, Christine).

South Africa 1994: Drink soon

A variable year but some good Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Shiraz was made

3/5

Weather Conditions

Among the hottest, driest, shortest vintages of recent times in South Africa ; much lower yields and generally concentrated fruit. But the heat waves rushed the ripening and growers were often forced to pick beyond – and before – ideal ripeness. Excessive alcohols – nudging 15% sometimes – did nothing for elegance. Variable tannins.

Those with tough tannins (Cabernets) will never come round completely; but most can (should) be kept another 2-5 years. Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage can be drunk now. (Cape 96s are generally already more approachable than 94s).

Best Appellations

Best regions: Stellenbosch, Constantia, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek, Walker Bay.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: Cordoba (Shiraz); Simonsig (Shiraz); Blaauwklippen (Cab.S); Le Bonheur (Cab.S); Vlottenburg Co-op (Cab.); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend, Paul Sauer, Cab.) Lievland (Cab.); Saxenburg PC (Cab.); Thelema (Cab. & Merlot); Grangehurst (Merlot); Overgaauw (Merlot); Stellenzicht (Bordeaux blend & Pinotage & Syrah.); Rozendal (Bordeaux blend); Eikendal (Bordeaux blend, Res.); L’Avenir (Cab.); Morgenhof (Cab.); Neil Ellis (Cab.) Warwick (Cab.); Simonsig (Pinotage), Zonnebloem* (Pinotage); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend, Rubicon). Stellenryck (Cab.).

Paarl:

KWV Cathedral Cellar * (Bordeaux blend, Triptych, Pinotage); Villiera (Bordeaux blend, Cru Monro); Plaisir de Merle (Cab.). Backsberg (Merlot); Bellingham (Pinotage).

Constantia: Klein Constantia (Shiraz).

Wellington (Paarl): Veenwouden (Bordeaux blend, Classic).

Franschhoek: L’Ormarins (Bordeaux blend, Optima); Cabriere (Pinot Noir).

Walker Bay: Bouchard-Finlayson (Pinot Noir); Beaumont (Pinotage).

South Africa 1993: Drink now

A small and disappointing vintage

2/5

Weather Conditions

An unmemorable, average year, in weather and yields; many producers reported “so-so fruit”; – and life-expectancy. A vintage quickly overshadowed by its big, powerful successor 1994.

Best Appellations

Stellenbosch, Klein Constantia, Paarl, Durbanville.

(Drink most now, a few (especially Cabernets) may be kept for another 2-3 years).

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: Rust en Vrede (Estate blend & Cab.Shiraz); Grangehurst (Cab.Merlot); Thelema ( Cab. & Merlot); Jordan (Cab.); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend Rubicon); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend, Paul Sauer & Cab. & Pinotage); Saxenburg PC (Shiraz); Blaauklippen (Shiraz); Yonder Hill (Merlot).

Constantia: Klein Constantia (Cab.S Res); Buitenverwachting (Bordeaux blend, Chrstine).

Durbanville: Diemersdal (Pinotage).

Paarl: KWV Cathedral Cellar * (Cab.) ; Backsberg (Shiraz); Fairview (Shiraz, Merlot Res.).

South Africa 1992: Drink now

A good vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage

2/5

Weather Conditions

Dry, cool start to the season, then some showers (requiring more than usual sprays against mildew) prefacing a typically warm Cape summer – for good, rich red wines. In retrospect, did not live up to initial optimistic forecasts.

Best Appellations

Again Stellenbosch, Constantia, Paarl, and Franschhoek made the best wines.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: Le Bonheur (Bordeaux blend, Prima); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend Paul Sauer, Cab. Pinotage); Simonsig (Pinotage); Thelema (Cab.S); Vriesenohof (Bordeaux blend, Kallista); Stellenryck Collctn. (Cab.); Saxenburg PC (Cab.); Neil Ellis (Cab.); Uitkyk (Cab. Carlonet); Lievland (Shiraz); Uiterwyk (Pinotage); Vergenoegd (Bordeaux blend).

Constantia: Buitenverwachting (Bordeaux blend, Christine); Klein Constantia (Cab.); Groot Constantia (Bordeaux blend Gouverneur’s Res.).

Franschhoek: Chamonix (Cab.) La Motte (Shiraz).

Paarl: Fairview (Merlot); Backsberg (Merlot); KWV Cathedral Cellar * (Cab. & Pinotage).

South Africa 1991: Drink now

Good, concentrated wines but some have remained rather hard and tannic

3/5

Weather Conditions

Good wet and cold winter in South Africa , an ideal dry, warm but not too hot Cape summer in coastal regions, yielding concentrated, ripe fruit (at least in relatively virus-free vineyards); also initially, deep, dark colours. There were some excessively hot spells in late summer. 1991 reveals elegance and length here and there. It was regarded at the time as the best red year since 1986.

Best Appellations

Walker Bay, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Swartland came up with the goods.

Best Producers

Constantia: Buitenverwachting (Bordeaux blend Christine & Cab. & Merlot); Klein Constantia (Cab).

Stellenbosch: Thelema (Cabernet & Res.); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend Paul Sauer & Cab. & Pinotage); Beyerskloof (Cab.); Stellenryck Collection (Cab.); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend Rubicon); Blaauwklippen (Shiraz); Simonsig (Shiraz); Lievland (Bordeaux blend, DVB); Vriesenhof (Cab. & Bordeaux blend Kallista); Fleur du Cap *(Pinotage). Saxenburg PC (Cab.) Overgaauw (Cab.) Blaauwklippen (Cab).

Walker Bay: Hamilton Russell Vineyards (Pinot Noir).

Paarl: Fairview (Merlot & Shiraz-Merlot); Backsberg (Bordeaux blend Babylonstoren & Cab.). Nederburg* Res. (Cab).

Franschhoek: La Motte (Shiraz); L’ Ormarins (Bordeaux blend, Optima, Shiraz).

Swartland: Allesverloren (Shiraz).

South Africa 1990: Drink now

A large crop. The best wines were Cabernet-based but even these were rather light

2/5

Weather Conditions

An uneven spring in South Africa with alternating periods of fresh winds and hot spells causing patchy budding in some areas. The pattern continued into summer, affecting white varieties but most reds, specially late-ripening Cabernet, were harvested without significant weather problems to yield a so-so Cape vintage, quantitatively and qualitatively. Not worth seeking out now.

Best Appellations

The best of 1990 is to be found in Stellenbosch, Constantia, Paarl, and Franschhoek.

Best Producers

In Stellenbosch: Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend, Paul Sauer), Thelema (Cab.); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend; Rubicon); Rust-en-Vrede (Estate Cab.-Shiraz blend & Shiraz); Rustenberg (Cab.); Alto (Cab.); Hartenberg (Shiraz); Overgaauw (Cab.); Blaauklippen (Shiraz).

In Constantia: Buitenverwachting (Bordeaux blends, Grand Vin & Christine); Blaauwklippen (Zinfandel).

Paarl: Backsberg (Cab).

Franschhoek: L’Ormarins (Bordeaux blend, Optima).