Ernst Gouws, the jovial patriarch of the Gouws family and winemaker extraordinaire, 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.
This 2018 Pinotage is a classic example of this uniquely South African red wine. It has a bold ruby colour and complementary aromas of wild bramble, ripe plums, exotic spices, baked Christmas cake and dried pears. The exotic spice profile is reminiscent of a trip to a Marrakesh open-air market where the spice aromas linger and infuse everything. The robust, yet ripe tannins, bolster the structure without the addition of any rough edges. True to its varietal character, the wine ends with lingering flavours of sweetish red berry fruit compote. The wine vinified in the traditional manner and was then matured for nine months in second fill French oak barrels.
The typical fruit sweetness on the finish of Pinotage makes it an ideal partner for spicy Asian-style dishes – think aromatic curries, biryani or peppered squid served with wasabi. The plush red fruit flavours will also compliment ratatouille and oxtail.