2018 Spice Route Pinotage

Charles Back, owner of Spice Route, is one of the pioneers in Swartland. At the end of the 90s he found a vineyard with over 30 year old Sauvignon Blanc sticks that produced wine of exceptional quality. Together with winemaker Eben Sadie, he planted new grape varieties around this oldest block of Sauvignon, most as separate shrubs, so-called 'bush vines'. The basis of the winery was an old tobacco barn, formerly called Klein Amoskuil. The wines of Spice Route quickly became a success!

For the success of these and other producers in this innovative region (there is even talk of a 'Swartland Revolution') a combination of two elements is decisive. The first is the deep soils (weathered granite and 'Koffieklip') in which the sticks can root deeply to find water. In addition, the climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

The current winemaker of Spice Route, Charl du Plessis makes wines that can certainly be called 'different', such as the juicy Pinotage in which no rubber can be tasted and a very playful and serious blend called Chakalaka (which can be translated as 'cliques') in which no less than 6 different grapes have been processed!

The Spice Route Pinotage is beautiful ruby red in the glass. The color betrays the freshness and surprising freshness of the pinotage. The nose is characterized by both black fruit and smoky aromas. There is also a little spiciness to discover. In the mouth a balanced balance with some tobacco and leather in the aftertaste and is wonderfully juicy in both the nose and the mouth.