Koelenbosch Pinotage Director’s Reserve 2020

Koelenbosch Pinotage Director’s Reserve 2020

Koelenhof Winery is om the Western edge of the Stellenbosch Wine Appellation. Founded in 1941 as a co-operative winery, it is now a place of premiumised wines and a fun destination for wine tasting and filling up the boot of your car with fine wine. They also offer Roosterkoek with a variety of fillings for you to enjoy while tasting their sublime wines.

A generosity of Pinotage ripening on the vine

Pinotage, of course, is a South African created grape, a mix of Pinot Noir, the noble grape of Champagne and Burgundy and Hermitage, now known as Cinsault. First made into wine in 1941 when there were sufficient grapes to fill a barrel, the wine jogged along happily until the early 60s when a Pinotage Wine won a national award. Since then, Pinotage has become a fabled grape with winemakers producing anything from the driest, most delicate blanc de noirs to full bodied, richly oaked classical reds and even Cap Classique.

The vines which are the source of the grapes for this wine are 20 years old and are planted in mainly Tukulu and Dresden soils on a base of shale.

Koelenhof Wine Cellar French Oak maturation barrels

The grapes were fermented in open top fermenters before being pressed and the resulting wine taken to 300 litre French Oak Barrels for 16 months. The final wines were then blended from the best barrels and prepared for bottling.

Adolfo Roma’s Filet Mignon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Pair
The Koelenbosch Pinotage Director’s Reserve 2020 is a wine made for food. A rich gutsy lamb casserole with tomato, or a more refined grilled Fillet Mignon like that of Chef Adolfo Roma, would make perfect partners.

Portuguese Chef, Adolfo Roma