Description

Cathedral Cellar Pinotage 2020

Vintage conditions:
The 2020 vintage was characterized by generally favorable conditions, improved winter rainfall preceding the growing season, and generally mild conditions. This resulted in improved crops in particular in the coastal areas or Swartland, Wellington, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. The vintage period was lower in disease pressure than the 2019 vintage but some rainfall during the vintage did require careful management. The spring period was unusually warm prompting early bud break. It accelerated early growth while the summer through vintage was mild in terms
of temperature with fewer peaks or periods of high temperature. This resulted in aging potential. We are hugely excited about the quality of the 2020 Vintage.
Winemaking:
A three-step selection process ensured only the best quality fruit was chosen for fermentation. Selective picking in the vineyard followed by both bunch and berry selection on the sorting table in the Cellar, is strictly observed. After 2 days of cold maceration, the juice was inoculated with a combination of specially selected yeast strains. Fermentation took place at 26oC over six days. The wine was pressed before alcoholic fermentation was completed, to prevent the extraction of hard and dry tannins. The wine was racked into a barrel where it underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine spent 16 months in the barrel before blending.

Wine description:

This elegant and modern-styled Pinotage shows true varietal characteristics, with an abundance of blackcurrant, black cherries, plums, and hints of fruitcake and marzipan on the nose. The intense concentration on the palate is the result of a combination of sweet fruit and well-integrated oak.

Maturation:
The wine spent 18 months in barrels. A 35% portion of the blend was aged in the new making of the wine comprised 85% French and 15% American oak.
Serving suggestion:
This Pinotage can be savored on its own or enjoyed with a variety of meat casseroles, roasted game, Cape Malay curry dishes or cheddar cheeses.
Cellaring potential:
This wine will be enjoyable now or can be cellared for up to 36 months from
vintage.