I reviewed a South African Pinotage a little while ago, that was a very different, exciting  and yet polarising wine (I didn’t think that everyone would like it – I loved it) and I was rather hoping for a similar experience with this one – same grape, same country, same price band. While this wine was very pleasant and almost certainly a better known brand for South African wines including Pinotage, I didn’t think that it was quite as exciting; ironically, it would probably register well on more peoples “acceptability” scale than the other but it did not have the same character as the previous “subject”.

Beyerskloof Pinotage 2015.

Price: £6.25 (currently – including £0.75 discount).

Bought at Sainsbury.

Bottled in the U.K. at W1743 (same as yesterday’s review wine – Cheshire although Sainsbury website says bottled in a place in Norfolk.

Vintage: 2015

Area/Region/Country: Koelenhof, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.

Alcohol Content: 14% (ABV)

Grape: Pinotage (Uniquely found in South Africa – a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut)

Colour: Deep red to Brick red.

Bouquet/nose/smell: Alcohol astringent on nose then cherries.

Taste/Palate: Grassy, very slight smoke, rich red fruits including cherry.

Medium length finish.

Overall, a very pleasant undemanding wine – easy drinking with a good structure – I liked it. Can be drunk on it’s own or with food. It will stand up well to hard cheese, Red meats and even blue cheese. Not as exciting as the Barista that I reviewed recently but good none the less. I think that I did alright at £6.25 – well worth the money. Sainsbury advise drinking young for fruity flavours but that it will develop over the next five years for smooth rich notes – can be drunk now or can be laid down, your choice. If I was laying a wine down it would need to be a bit more distinctive than this but it will “mature and develop” if you chose to do so.

Sainsbury Beyerkloof Pinotage page.

Geniet! (enjoy!)