Scions of Sinai Atlantikas Pinotage 2019
We’d just been to a stuffy First Thursday’s exhibition (the art was incredible, but there were too many people and zero air on a very warm summer’s night).
We decided to find refuge at OpenWine, and I clearly remember ordering this...not so much tasting it! That night didn’t end at 2 glasses of wine, and it continued until way later than 2am...so I had to order another bottle shortly before lockdown to refresh my memory.
The Wine:
Dark cherries, oranges, red plums, faint smoke, cooked green pepper and barnyard.
Dry, medium+ tannins finish. The cherries and red plums are repeated on the palate. This wine really benefits from a little moment in the fridge...the chill brings out the lovely furry tannins and really shows off how fruity this truly is.
Viti & Vini:
The grapes come from a single vineyard planted in 1976 and dry farmed since 1975. The bush vines are planted on granite and silica soils. It's the closest Pinotage vineyard to the Atlantic Ocean in the Cape Winelands.
Mindful and organic farming practices combine with minimal intervention winemaking.
Conclusion:
Balance (½) + Length (½) + Intensity (1) + Complexity (1) = A good wine.
Drink now, but potential for a little further ageing. Having said that, I think you should drink this now.
Final Thoughts:
I love the sentiment behind this wine. The vines were destined to be pulled out and the winemaker offered to buy the majority of the vineyard as he valued the authenticity of the farming as well as it's unique location. In turn, he was able to "plough back care into this vineyard for the future".
