Groot Constantia Pinotage 2019

Groot Constantia Pinotage 2019

I always think of Groot Constantia Wine Estate as the cradle of the wine industry in South Africa. Simon van der Stel was first granted the Estate in 1685. It was Hendrik Cloete, owner in the late 18th Century who, with his Constantia Wines, made for a ‘golden era’ of Cape Wines in Europe.

Boela Gerber and Floricius Beukes

The Mantle of Van der Stel today rests on the shoulders of Boela Gerber, the Estate’s Award-Winning Winemaker, and Floricius Beukes, the Viticulturist. Great quality grapes, making sublime wines.

Abraham Perold

The Groot Constantia Pinotage 2019 is about as South African Wine as you can get, the grape having been created in the 1920s by one Abraham Perold. Though it was his friend, Professor C T de Waal, who at Perold’s request made the first barrel of Pinotage in the vintage of 1942. Perold died later that year, never having tasted the wine.

Pinotage grapes ripening on the vine

The Grapes from various blocks that vary between 39m and 160m above sea level. All the slopes are south to south-east facing were harvested in at 26º Balling and fermented on the skins till dry with 4 pump overs a day for maximum extraction. The wine then spent 14 months in 40% new French Oak Barrels, 20% in 2nd and 20% 3rd and 20% 4th fill barrels. After this maturation, the wine was prepared for bottling.

Groot Constantia Barrel Cellar

Pour

From a Bordeaux shaped bottle, closed with natural cork. The label is in the style of a French Chateau with an etching of the Manor House. In the glass, the wine is a deep opaque plum in colour which pales out to ruby at the edges. The aromas are taken from the Pinot Noir parent, vibrant red fruits like frais des bois, and cherries, and plums. The well applied oak is in support of the fruit with its spice and vanilla. These segue onto the rich and generously fruited palate which has a lovely acidity line from entry to the long and gently waning aftertaste where the tannins indicate the ageing ability of this wine. An impressive glass.

Diane Bibby’s Red Wine Lamb Shanks

Pair

The Groot Constantia Pinotage 2019 is a fine food wine. There are two restaurants on the Estate, Simon’s and The Jonkershuis, both of which have perfect partners for the wine on their menus. If you are far away, a good dish of well-made Bobotie would be a complement. Lamb is the meat which goes well with Pinotage. Dianne Bibby’s Red Wine Lamb Shanks are a great match. Click HERE for her recipe.

Dianne Bibby – food genius from Johannesburg