Intellego Halagasha 2019
I picked this up from Vino Pronto last year and I’m pretty sure I had zero intention of holding onto it for more than a week.
That’s the problem with Intellego...you want to dive straight in anytime you find something new.
The Wine:
Medium ruby with a slight haze that suggests no fining. On the nose: pronounced strawberry, bitter herbs, orange zest, cinnamon spice, the musky rose of Turkish delights, and some peppery spice. I found myself sniffing at the empty glass because it was just so captivating. I don’t want to keep using pomegranate for this particular style of Pinotage...but it’s the closest I can get to describing the bitter sweetness that’s a little musky.
On the palate: raspberry, strawberry, almonds, and the sweet, if somewhat medicinal taste of raw nettle leaves. Light bodied, good acidity, and gentle tannins that melt away as you’re trying to hold onto them to assess them.
Conclusion:
Balance (1) + Length (½) + Intensity (1) + Complexity (½) = A good wine
Drink now, but I’m still interested to see how this lighter styled semi carbonic Pinotage could evolve over time.
Viti and Vini:
Dry farmed bush vines grown in Paardeberg decomposed granite soils. Whole bunch fermented for 8 days under semi carbonic conditions, aged in barrel for 5 months, then racked into steel tanks for a month before bottling.
Final thoughts:
As much as I really and truly enjoyed this wine chilled on a Friday evening, I’m curious about the possibility of bottle ageing this style of Pinotage. When I think of it’s famous Burgundian parent...it makes sense to hide them away from myself for a few years. But it’s so hard not to keep popping these bottles because they’re too yummy as is.
I had to google the name Halagasha - it turns out to be a term used when celebrating a goal in sporting events. Ah yes, sports...no wonder I wasn’t familiar with the word. I also just learned that Intellego is Latin for understanding...something that’s undeniably apt about Jurgen’s delightful wines.
