Provenance

Wine Cellar Private Client

Critics Ratings

'This is not showing quite as well as the spectacular 2008, but it may yet surpass it with time in the bottle. It's marked by its 100% new oak at the moment, but the underlying fruit is soft, sweet and nuanced, with succulent, yet structured flavours that wouldn't look out of pace in Gevrey-Chambertin. Low yielding and concentrated, this has the structure to age gracefully. Drink 2015-25.' - Tim Atkin SA Wine Report 2013, 95/100

'Deep ruby, with a nose packed with brooding dried cranberries, smoky bacon and earth. Full generous palate with great ripe fruit concentration, high well structured tannins and layers of complexity from use of high quality toasty oak. A benchmark example of this variety with a long very balanced finish.' - International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2017, Silver Outstanding Award

‘17 months in French oak, 100% new. Very shy on the nose. Overt oak on the palate – notes of vanilla, coffee and spice – but also sweet plum and cherry. Full bodied, rich and dense with soft acidity and chunky tannins.’ - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 17/20 (2012)

‘A more youthful aromatic profile, the 2011 shows subtle hints of bruleed coffee beans, burnt toast crusts, black cherry and underlying notes of graphite and boot polish. The palate entry is creamy, powdery and soft with beautifully rounded tannins bolstering a blue and black berry fruit concentration that shows impressive oak integration. The finish is mouth-coating and powerful but never oversteps the boundaries to lose any elegance or textural harmony, leaving a long, lingering savoury coffee and chocolate intensity in the mouth. Another youthful expression.’ - Greg Sherwood MW, 94+/100 (Nov 2022)

‘A brisk line of acidity drives through this, providing real lift and line, while the chalky tannins give chew and structure through the long, savoury palate. The nose is shy at first but opens out with time in the glass to red cherry, dried herbs and violets. The palate follows suit, but with a darker spectrum – more earth, tar, coffee and cured meat.’ - Tina Gellie, Decanter.com, 93/100 (May 2022)

‘The 2011 Pinotage Black Label has a mellow bouquet with red berry fruit, fynbos, quince jus and light earthy scents. It maybe does not quite have the delineation of the 2010, yet it seems to gain clarity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy and quite generous. Dried blood and black pepper furnish the finish that is perhaps the most garrigues-like, lending another layer of complexity. It is a subtler Black Label, yet it draws you in.’ - Neal Martin, Vinous, 92/100 (May 2022)

'The 2011 Black Label Pinotage sees 18 months in barrel and I have to say that I do not necessarily find it superior to the regular bottling. Certainly it has a more ravishing bouquet than the regular Pinotage, although contrasting the two side-by-side, it does not possess quite the same focus. The palate is better with raisin and fig-tinged black fruit, firm tannins and a touch of salted licorice on the voluminous finish. This is very fine and should age with style, although personally I would buy three bottles of the Pinotage instead of one Black Label. Drink now-2018+.’ - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 91/100 (2013)