2007 Zaràfa Pinotage

After being introduced to Pinotage by a South African friend who also happens to be one of the Livermore Valley's finer wine makers, we have been on the hunt for a bottle as good as she makes for her own consumption. We found the 2006 Zaràfa enjoyable and a good bargain, even if it was not up to the quality of Mrs. Nolte's wine, so when Trader Joe's got the 2007 in we went for it. (note that the Southern hemisphere harvests their grapes in January)

I opened this bottle to accompany some prawns and asparagus that SG had cooked for dinner.

The presentation is OK. It comes in a Bordeaux bottle. It's a critter wine with the Girraffe on the label (one can assume that Zaràfa is Afrikaans for the beast), but that serves to hide the vintner (Mt. River) which is only mentioned in the small print. It did have a cheap plastic capsule covering an amalgamated cork (which left no tattoo of course). It sprayed wine when the cork was pulled.

It had a clean, pale, colour with fresh fruit on the nose.

After the swirl we got legs on one side of the glass, and a dirty taste with a slight hint of vinegar.

I ran it through the Vinturi and the colour got brighter, but the flavour got tart. I forwent the vinturi for the actual drinking.

The Verdict:

This wine was about $3 a bottle so with it being drinkable it makes an excellent value.

Style:	Afrikaner
Varietals:	Pinotage
Appellation/Terrior:	Western Cape
Vintage:	2007
Vintner:	Mountain River
Alcohol:	14% by Volume

2003 Mountain River Pinotage/Shiraz Reserve

SaraGrace bought this bottle over the summer when we first discovered the joys of Pinotage.

The presentation is good. The rear label gives some decent info. It comes in a Zin bottle.

I didn't get to see the cork as SGK popped it open before I came home and disposed of it.

It had a bright lively colour.

Lots of earth and brandy on the nose.

After a completely and utterly legless swirl, I got berries and leather.

It tasted dirty and full bodied. I liked it. The body reminded me of a Rhône blend.

I put it through the Vinturi and it brought purple and blood to the colour and more berries on the nose. It also removed the dirt from the flavour and replaced it with prunes. I prefer the dirt, so even though it improved the colour, the rest of the bottle got swilled sans vinturi. SG didn't like it because she thought it tasted tart.

The Verdict:

I liked it

Style:	Afrikaner
Varietals:	Pinotage, Sirah
Appellation/Terrior:	WO Western Cape, South Africa
Vintage:	2004
Vintner:	Mountain River
Alcohol:	14% by Volume