2010 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2010 Pinotage Black Label comes from a season that was affected by 150km/h winds in November that damaged the untrellised vines. It has a sensual bouquet with dark cherries, blueberry, liquorice and crushed violets, sophisticated and harmonious. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, demonstrating more tension than the 2007 with more mineralité towards the finish. It is less spicy and rustic than preceding vintages yet with longer persistence. Superb.
Critic scores
Tim Jackson MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Single plot of 57-year-old, dry-farmed bush vines, on decomposed granite and Hutton soils, harvested at 2.7 t/ha. Fermentation in open concrete fermenters at 28 °C, with manual punchdowns every two hours. Juice drawn off skins after three and a half days. 16 months in new, 225-litre French Nevers oak, mainly from Vicard. TA 5.9 g/l, pH 3.67, RS 1.8 g/l, VA 0.63 g/l, total SO 2 86 mg/l, free SO 2 45 mg/l. Mid garnet. Slightly subdued nose, giving woody, brawny tones and a smoky hint, with a core of dried red fruit. Juicy palate, then relatively rustic tannins kick in. Not that long. In the context of this vertical tasting, one of the less successful wines. (TJ)