South African & International Fine Wine
Live Auction, 14 September 2019
Session Two
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Often described as the South African equivalent of a Grand Cru or First Growth, Kanonkop Estate is situated on the Simonsberg mountain slopes on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Owned by the fourth generation Krige family, Abri Beeslaar is their long-term winemaker who has won International Winemaker of the year an incredible 3 times.
The Kanonkop Pinotage has become a consistent flag bearer for the variety in serious clad, and is made from bush vines aged up to 64 years old. From the illustrious 2009 vintage, this is a Veritas double gold and IWSC gold medal winner.
Provenance
Wine Cellar
Critics Ratings
‘Showstopper 09 (4.5*) has spectacular fruit purity, impeccably judged oak & great freshness. Medium bodied & well balanced, it’s almost impossible to resist now but optimal drinking doubtless many years off. 16 months in French oak, 70% new. Convincingly trumps savoury 08.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2012, 4.5*
‘As I have already mentioned, Pinotage has an under-appreciated propensity to age, hence my reason for publishing these notes. Kanonkop boasts some of South Africa’s oldest Pinotage plantings from 1953. The fruit is fermented in open-top fermenters with punching down every two hours and then raised for 18 months in oak, usually around 80% new. Abrie stressed that in his opinion, new oak is essential to make a truly great Pinotage. That is not a view that I would necessarily agree with, though on the other hand there is no question that Kanonkop’s Pinotage soaks up that new wood with style and it is completely subsumed with age. This is a lovely, sensual Pinotage. Drink 2015-2025’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (October 2013), 92/100
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