Technical Analysis
The Reserve range and in particular this Pinotage, typifies the quality of the Pinotage grape and the winemaking ability at Beyerskloof. The premium range wine is representative of the region through its main focus of having more concentrated flavours and a smooth character.
Tasting note
Lovely black fruit flavours upon entry with delicate cedar oak aromas from Barrel maturation. A wine with excellent balance, a lovely core, and a long juicy aftertaste. Ready to enjoy upon release and will develop well for up to 10 years.
Vintage conditions
Ideal winter conditions supplemented water reserves and contributed to even growth, which provided an excellent foundation for the 2022 crop. Following a cool run-up to the season, sudden heat peaks in December and January resulted in sunburn damage on certain vineyard blocks. At the same time, unexpected rainfall led to high disease pressure that caused challenges in minimising the effects of powdery and downy mildew. As temperatures remained moderate throughout the rest of the season, the grapes took their time to reach optimum ripeness, and the start of harvest was delayed by 10-14 days. The 2022 crop was larger than 2021 due to ideal winter conditions. The quality of the 2022 vintage wines currently in the cellar, is indicative of another classic Stellenbosch vintage.
Vinification details
The wine spends 4-5 days in open fermenters with the cap punched through by hand every two hours. Fermentation temperature was between 25-28°C. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured in second/third-fill barrels for 14 months.
Technical Analysis
The Reserve range and in particular this Pinotage, typifies the quality of the Pinotage grape and the winemaking ability at Beyerskloof. The premium range wine is representative of the region through its main focus of having more concentrated flavours and a smooth character.
Tasting note
Lively dark fruits and plum flavours upon entry with delicate cedar oak aromas from barrel maturation. A wine with excellent balance, a lovely core, and a long, juicy aftertaste. Ready to enjoy upon release and will develop well for up to 10 years.
Vintage conditions
It was a cool, wet growing season that replenished the water reserves.
Harvest started the first week of February and ended the last week of March 2021. This harvest had some challenges with COVID restrictions, lockdown, and some rain that made planning difficult. Overall, the quality of the wines shows lots of promise.
Vinification details
The wine spends 4 days in open fermenters with the cap punched through by hand every two hours. Fermentation temperature was between 25-28°C. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured in 5% new and 95% second/third-fill barrels for 14 months.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 91 pts
Technical Analysis
The Reserve range and in particular this Pinotage, typifies the quality of the Pinotage grape and the winemaking ability at Beyerskloof. The premium range wine is representative of the region through its main focus of having more concentrated flavours and a smooth character.
Tasting note
Bundles of blackberry and plum flavours upon entry with the delicate cedar oak aromas from barrel maturation. A wine with excellent balance, solid mid palette and a long juicy aftertaste.
Vintage conditions
It was a relatively normal growing season with good rainfall at the end of October which helped with even ripening for the mid to early cultivars. The late cultivars still needed additional water to ensure optimum ripeness. The harvest started in early February at the Beyerskloof cellar with Pinotage and Pinot Noir. From then, the harvest was bumper to bumper as everything ripened at the same time. The fermentation ended just before the first lockdown. In general, the grapes were healthy and the quality looked better than in 2019. The crop was also bigger compared to the past 4 years.
Vinification details
The wine spends 4 days in open fermenters with the cap punched through by hand every two hours. Fermentation temperature was between 25-28°C. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured in 10% new and 90% second/third-fill barrels for 14 months.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 91 pts
