Buying guide: Pinotage blends

Pinotage blends

About the style: Around the end of the 1990s, there was a strong movement to establish a "Cape Blend" category, wines needing to contain at least 30% Pinotage in order to qualify as such. Official recognition was never forthcoming but a few producers continue to keep the dream alive.

Key findings: The overall feeling was that there was little to get excited about - none of the wines showed very much individuality causing the panel to speculate that Pinotage appeared in these blends mainly for marketing reasons.

Soundbite: "A blend should be more than the sum of its parts and I'm not sure that this is the case with these wines." - James Pietersen, Wine Tasting Academy graduate.

ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR?
Average price of the 25 Pinotage blends assessed: R67
Average price per 750ml of the 2 wines rated 3½ to 4 stars: R109
Average price per 750ml of the 7 wines rated 3 stars: R65
Average price per 750ml of the 7 wines rated 2½ stars: R70

Average price per 750ml of the 9 wines rated less than 2½ stars:R51

★ ★ ★ ★ FOUR STARS
Idiom Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinotage Merlot Petit Verdot 2006
WHALEHAVEN PRICE: R108
Alc 14.5% RS 2.2g/l TA 5.9g/l pH 3.81
Pitch black. Appealing oak on nose. Subtle
and restrained on the palate with dark fruit,
fresh acidity and fi ne tannins. Long, dry finish.
Drink now or over next 3 years.
CE 16 AL 16 JS 16 CA 14.5 JP 16.5

★ ★ ★ ✩ THREE AND A HALF STARS
Simonsig Frans Malan R110
Cape Blend 2005

★ ★ ★ THREE STARS
Jason's Creek R28
Classic Red 2007 (Jason's Hill)
Arniston Bay Shiraz Pinotage 2008* R30
(the company of wine people)
Heron's Nest Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinotage 2007 (Clos Malverne) ARP R35
Freedom Hill Cape Blend 2006 R38
Hermanuspietersfontein 1855 R45
Oesjaar 2006*
Painted Wolf Cape Blend 2007 R69
Kaapzicht Steytler Vision R210
Cape Blend 2005

★ ★ ✩ TWO AND A HALF STARS
Pulpit Rock Brink Family 2007 R36
Manley  atch House Red 2007* R45
Douglas Cellar Barney Barnato R50
Cape Blend 2007
Kumkani Merlot Pinotage 2007* R57
(the company of wine peopleBrahms Quartet 2006 R75
Bellingham St. Georges 2006 ARP R98
Beyerskloof Synergy R290
Cape Blend Reserve 2005

★ ★ TWO STARS
Ashton Satynrooi R23
Pinotage Ruby Cabernet 2007
Clos Malverne Devonet R45
Cape Blend 2007 ARP
Stonecross Merlot Pinotage 2007 R48
(Deetlefs)
Fairview Pinotage Viognier 2007* R80

★ ONE STAR
Cape Tranquility Pinotage Shiraz R30
Petit Verdot 2007* (Pulpit Rock)
Welgemeend Amadé 2003 R42
The Stables Sharks Raggie Red NV R55
Leopard Frog Tribe R100
Limited Release 2005

ALSO TASTED
Stellendrift Cape Huguenot R40
Merlot Pinotage 2005

PRICES: wines in each quality grouping are
listed in order of ascending price -
all ex-cellar unless otherwise stipulated.

ARP Approximate retail price
* Bottled under screwcap

WINE TASTERS: editor of WINE magazine
Christian Eedes (chair) (CE), wine
writer Angela Lloyd (AL) and Wine Tasting
Academy Graduates Jonathan Steyn of
Balthazar (JS), Carrie Adams of retailer
Norman Goodfellows (CA) and James
Pietersen (JP).

BEST VALUE PINOTAGE BLENDS - TOP THREE WINES ON PRICE
Wines rated 2½ Stars or better and recommended for particularly good value on
the basis of their quality/price ratio in the context of the average price per bottle:

1. Jason's Creek Classic Red 2007 (Jason's Hill) 3 Stars R28
2. Arniston Bay Shiraz Pinotage 2008* (The company of wine people) 3 Stars R30
3. Heron's Nest Cabernet Sauvignon Pinotage 2007 (Clos Malverne) 3 Stars R35