Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar
Varietal Blend: 100% Pinotage
Location: South Africa
Appellation: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Alcohol Content: 14.8%
TA: 5.4 g/l
pH: 3.8
RS: 3.1 g/l

VINEYARDS:
Kanonkop is situated on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch. The vineyards range between 197 and 395 feet above sea level. The majority of the vineyards are situated on southwest-facing slopes, considered the most favorable aspect for vines in the Cape. The soils are predominantly red decomposed granite and hutton soils with a high clay content and excellent water retention capacity. Kanonkop’s Pinotage vines were some of the first to be established commercially in the Cape, and they range up to 62 years of age! They are maintained as dry farmed
bush vines in order to achieve maximum sun exposure and optimal ripeness. The grapes for this bottling stem mostly from vines that are 35 years old.
VINTAGE:
A cold and wet winter led to some warmer days during the picking season providing optimal weather for harvest. The 2014 vintage was very favorable, offering more red fruit flavors in its youth but after some bottle age these wines tend to show more earthy characteristics.
VINIFICATION AND MATURATION:
The grapes were hand harvested and hand sorted. They were then fermented in open top concrete vats over a period of three days at 82°F, with manual punch downs of the cap every two hours around the clock. When fermentation was complete, the wine was run to 225 liter French oak barrels (75% new, 25% second fill) for malolactic fermentation and aging. It was aged in barrel for 18 months and was bottled without fining or filtration.