MYSTERY NO MORE! The maiden 2016 vintage was only released in the second-half of 2019, after having already earned accolades at local and international shows a year before. The 2017, which excelled at the 2019 Absa Top 10 awards, is only expected to go on sale in mid-2020. And at the time of writing, there was still no mention of Beyerskloof Winemakers Reserve on the producer’s pricelist or website. Pinotage fans were curious, to say the least. But all has been revealed.

On hearing about or seeing the name of the ‘Winemakers Reserve’ for the first time, wine lovers can be forgiven for confusing it with the ‘Pinotage Reserve’. However, at R225 a bottle, the new addition to the producer’s range of wines made entirely from this variety is positioned at a level above the Pinotage Reserve (R165pb), second in status among Beyerskloof’s Pinotage flagships, after the ‘Diesel Pinotage’ (R800pb). And interestingly, the word ‘Pinotage’ doesn’t appear on the front label of the Winemakers Reserve – although, given that they’re such Pinotage specialists, the name Beyerskloof is synonymous with the name of this grape variety!

The release of the 2017 Winemakers Reserve in 2020 will come after that of the 2017 Pinotage Reserve (currently on sale) and the 2017 Diesel Pinotage (in October 2019). “There was such a big gap between the Diesel and the Pinotage Reserve,” says cellarmaster Anri Truter. The team felt that there should be a wine in between.

“We only made a small volume so we could get the recipe right from the start,” says Truter. The Winemakers Reserve involves 50 to 60% more new oak, relative to the Pinotage Reserve: “About 20% great second- and third-fill barrel Pinotage added to the blend of new oak.” He says he wants the Winemakers Reserve to have sufficient time in bottle before release. Hence the delay in putting it onto the market. Available only at the farm in Stellenbosch.

BEYERSKLOOF WINEMAKERS RESERVE 2017
WO Bottelary, Stellenbosch. 100% Pinotage. Oakleaf soil. 19-year-old bush vines. Drought year. Less wind than usual. Earliest start to harvest yet at Beyerskloof: 23 January. A great vintage like 2009 or 20015, maybe better. Five days in open fermenters. Maturation in 80% new and 10% second/third-fill barrels for 17 months. 3000 bottles.
Alc 14.7 | RS 2.1 | TA 112 | pH 3.5
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: blackberry aromas upfront, with lively sweet cedar oak (from barrel maturation) in the background; blackberry and plum flavours upon entry; long, juicy aftertaste. Enjoy upon release, but will develop well for up to 10 years.
Pairing Suggestion: will go well with spicy curries or lamb on the braai.
R225pb. Release in mid-2020.