£19.99
In stock
Pinotage, the uniquely South African grape, it is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot noir. NAT is our take on Pinotage, naturally fermented lighter and fresher in styled, expressing authenticity. A style more reminiscent of its paternal lines. As Manet is to the art world, NAT is to Pinotage. Dry land bush-vines and aged for 8 months in concrete egg and foudre.
| Wine Type | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Cape South Coast |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Brand | Natte Valleij |
| Cultivar | Pinotage |
| Bottle Size | 75cl |
| Pack Size | 1x75cl |
| Alcohol Percentage | 12.00 |
| Duty Status | Duty Paid |
| Availability | Immediate |
| Rating Agencies | JancisRobinson.com, Tim Atkin |
"Why make Pinotage like a Cabernet Sauvignon?", asks Alex Milner. Why indeed? This engagingly scented example hails from a bush-vine parcel planted in 1997 on decomposed granite and is sappy, refreshing and light-bodied, with good underlying concentration, negligible oak and strawberry and red cherry fruit.
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2039
Full bottle 1,332 g. Dry-farmed Pinotage bush vines. Hand-picked, spontaneous fermentation in open concrete tanks with manual punchdown. Aged in a mix of concrete eggs and used barrels. There is a tiny necklet of bubbles at the top of the bottle, and you can feel the hint of effervescence in your mouth. Not pet-nat, but subversively, wickedly close. If you love negroni, liquorice, vermut rojo, bresaola, dill, and cumin seeds in everything, you will, like me, love this wine. It’s a riddle of cherry sweetness, cola cuteness and bit-lip bitterness. It tastes like a love bite. Chill it, a lot, or a little.
Natte Valleij, a historic family farm in Stellenbosch run by winemaker Alex Milner, has received critical acclaim for his site specific Cinsault from various pockets of extraordinary old vine parcels across the Cape. Tamlyn Currin writes: “It was the first time I’d tasted Cinsault. It was the first time I actually understood the variety. It was a lightning strike.” Together with his stellar Axle Chenin Blanc from Darling. Tamlyn writes: “Alex Milner pushes the edges of possibility and beauty. He always takes my breath away. Surely this cannot be under £30?!” The stage has been set, heroing the adopted heritage grapes of South Africa, finally allowing them freedom of expression. As well as our very own, native Pinotage – Alex and his Natte Valleij wines represent the spirit of the Cape and we’d strongly advise you visit him and his wines during Cape Wine.
