Ernst Gouws & Co Pinotage 2020
I have known Ernst and Gwenda Gouws for a number of years. However, it is a long time since I tasted their utterly delicious wines.
Ernst, Gwenda & daughter Ezaan Gouws – Du Toit, the Gouws Family Team
Ernst Gouws & Co is situated in Stellenbosch, the premium wine region of South Africa’s Western Cape Province. What I really like about Ernst’s wines is that they express the variety from which the wine is made. The fruit is intense, the oaking is gentle and supportive and, not to damn the wines with feint praise, eminently drinkable. To talk about easy drinkers is always seen as a downside. For me, a lot of the pleasure of a wine comes with its drinkability, a richness and generosity of the aromas which segue perfectly onto the palate which is full and soft, with a lovely line of acidity and long aftertaste. This you find in the modern wines of Ernst Gouws. Ernst is a family man, a man of passion and tradition. Wine needs a story and his wines have it by the spadeful.
A generosity of Pinotage
Pinotage is a uniquely South African grape variety, created in Stellenbosch almost 100 years ago. A cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage, now known as Cinsaut. The grapes used come from growing partner vineyards known for producing grapes which Ernst and his team turn into dry wines which are primarily led by sweet ripe fruit.
Ernst Gouws, the man behind the magic
Ernst firmly believes in the French philosophy that the quality of the wine is inextricably linked to the origin of the vineyards and its terroir. Grapes are therefore hand-harvested from site-specific vineyards around the town of Stellenbosch, which is world famous for producing quality, fruit-driven wines.
National Pinotage Day is celebrated this year on October 8th
Pour
From a Bordeaux shaped bottle and closed with natural cork. In the glass, the wine is a deep red stained glass in colour, which pales out to translucent ruby at the edges. The aromas are of sweet ripe berry fruits and plums underpinned by the support of the oak barrels and their concomitant spice. These segue on to the palate which is plush with overt berry and plum fruits, a lovely line of plum skin acidity and into a long and gently waning aftertaste. An impressive and satisfying glass.
My Tomato Bredie, photographed by Mike Robinson
Pair
Slightly chilled, the Ernst Gouws & Co Pinotage 2020 is a perfect sipping wine. It is perfect with food, especially some of our traditional dishes. My Tomato Bredie is a perfect example. Click HERE for my recipe, the photograph taken by my friend of 40 years, Mike Robinson. Mike allso did he photography for my recent book, Friends Food Flavour – CLICK HERE
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