Abbotsdale Swartland Pinotage

Description

A deep red in the glass, the 2016 Pinotage is a darker fruited, and deeper wine than his Abbotsale Syrah. Gently asserting tannins, blackberries just plucked from the hedgerow and cinnamon stick. Dark and brooding and an excellent pair to slow cooker beef.nBryan MacRobert is a born and bred Swartlander, with his family farm based just outside of Malmesbury. Never heard of the Swartland? Well, it may be less famous than Constantia or Stellenbosch, but trust us, this is a magical wine producing area, more rugged than the prior two – warm and dry, home to big skies, mountains, wheatfields, and hectares of rugged old bushvines. Nowadays, Bryan splits his time between life in Rioja, and his home country of South Africa. He aims to make wines that are unique to the soil, climate, vintage and culture of this very special region. As well as working with his family’s vineyards, he also selects special parcels from neighbouring farmers that he has close relationships with. All the vineyards are worked organically without the use of pesticides, fertilizers or fungicides. The same high standards are maintained in the cellar – minimal intervention, and a sparing use of oak. The smallest barrels he uses are 500l, preferring 2nd and 3rd fill. As he pains to point out 500l barrels have a quarter of the oak contact as a 225l barrel. Maths! And wine!