Big guns to the fore in countdown to Pinotage Association Top 10
PERHAPS THE most surprising inclusion among the 20 finalists in the run-up to the 2016 Absa Top 10 Pinotage awards is Oupa Bull Reserve 2015. Paarl visitors might have come across the humble farm De Zoete Inval where fifth-generation winemaker John Robert Frater and the team replanted in 2005 and feel that the vines are “now old enough to realise their full potential” – hence the introduction of a premium range under the name of Frater Family Wines, although the Reserve Pinotage has been made from grapes grown at Marklew on the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch!
Bargain-priced finalists at under R100 pb at the cellar door include Knorhoek Two Cubs 2015 at R40 and Landskroon 2014 at R62. And based on their very good track records, there are short odds on the following being among the Top 10 when they’re announced on 26 August: Diemersdal Reserve, Flagstone Writer’s Block, Kanonkop, Rijk’s Reserve and Simonsig Redhill – all the prices here.
FINALISTS IN 2016 TOP 10 PINOTAGE COMPETITION
• Delheim Vera Cruz Pinotage 2014 – WO Stellenbosch
• Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2015 – WO Durbanville
• Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2014 – WO Breedekloof
• Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Pinotage 2014 (Bergkelder) – WO Paarl and Bottelary, Stellenbosch
• Frater Family Oupa Bull Pinotage Reserve 2015 – WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
• Kanonkop Pinotage 2010 – WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
• Kanonkop Pinotage 2013 – WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
• Knorhoek Two Cubs Pinotage 2015 – WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
• KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2013 – WO Stellenbosch
• Landskroon Pinotage 2014 – WO Paarl
• L’Avenir Single Block Pinotage 2014 – WO Stellenbosch
• Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2014 – WO Stellenbosch (Helderberg)
• Maastricht Pinotage 2014 – WO Durbanville
• Manley Pinotage 2014 – WO Tulbagh
• Rickety Bridge Pinotage 2015 – WO Franschhoek
• Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2013 – WO Tulbagh
• Rooiberg Pinotage Reserve 2015 – WO Robertson
• Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2014 – WO Stellenbosch (Koelenhof)
• Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge Pinotage 2012 – WO Stanford
• The Dry Land Collection Pinotage 2014 (Perdeberg) – WO Voor Paardeberg, Paarl
Why do you find the inclusion of the 2015 Oupa Bull Reserve among the 2016 Top 20 Pinotages surprising? If you had followed John Robert Frater’s progression, from his maiden 2008 vintage, you would not be at all surprised. The 2014 is drinking very well too.
Good to hear that the Fraters’ wines are back on the radar…