2021 Kanonkop Pinotage
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The Kanonkop 2021 Simonsberg Stellenbosch Pinotage Estate Wine brings us to a current release. The wine shows a noticeable oak signature with sweet tones of nutmeg and cardamom that frame a core of dark fruit. It's fascinating to see how far bottle aging goes to change the aromatic profile of Pinotage made at this historic estate. (I tasted this wine next to the 2014 vintage from the library.) These wines undergo quite a radical evolution. Fruit comes from 25- to 50-year-old bush vines, with the oldest reaching 70 years of age. They are planted at high elevations with no irrigation. There is a pretty interlude on the mid-palate that is bright and spicy, with a combination of cinnamon and spearmint. Three and a half days of aggressive extraction is implemented, as the Kanonkop winemaking philosophy stresses a quick extraction in general.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinotage Estate has a very slight reduction on the nose that accents mentholated black cherries—well defined and exuberant. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple opening and lovely structure. White pepper and a touch of clove meet with just the right amount of fruit sweetness on the finish, closing with a suggestion of graphite.
A delightful and juicy wine, the 2021 Pinotage offers a ripe and fleshy expression of black raspberry, spiced plums and dark cherry skin with elegant oak spices and dusty florals with a soft, lingering potpourri essence. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is fresh and red-fruited with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins that lift the mid-palate while displaying plenty of toasted oak essence. This Pinotage is gorgeous as it offers layers of attractive fruit and oak before gliding to a graceful, food-friendly finish. While it's still primary, this will undoubtedly improve with additional bottle age. About 70,000 bottles were filled after the wine matured for a year and a half in 80% new French oak. Nicely done!
The 2021 Pinotage Estate matured in French oak, 80% new for 18 months. It has a lively and well-defined nose, with just a touch of Wellington boot that marries the dark berry fruit well. The palate is well-balanced, with a lightly spiced entry fanning out gently towards the finish with a touch of stem ginger. This represents an elegant take on the grape variety.