David Frost Pinotage 2015

2018 is upon us and I’m looking to broaden my horizons in the wine world and decided to try out a South African red.  David Frost Pinotage of 2015 vintage. 

David Frost is a  championship Golfer winning 29 total national and international victories.  He bought his property in the Paarl wine region in 1994. He produced his first 3000 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1997. Located 37 miles (60km) inland from Cape Town and just north of Stellenbosch. Paarl’s vineyards are found on the lower slopes of Paarl Rock, on the northern side of Simonsberg Mountain and in the valley of the Berg River. David Frost Pinotage is just one of several varieties he produces.

David is third generation vintner whose family has been part of the wine heritage in South Africa dating back to 1693.This is the year that wine farm Saxenburg was founded. Still today, Saxenburg is an established winery in South Africa and one of the oldest wine farms in the country. February 1932 Henry Laurence was the owner of Saxenburg who was the father of Liezel Laurence, mother of David Laurence Frost.

Pinotage is a grape variety that was created in South Africa in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. Perold was attempting to combine the best qualities of the robust Hermitage or Cinsault with Pinot noir, a grape that makes great wine but can be difficult to grow. Pinotage typically produces deep red varietal wines with smoky, bramble and earthy flavors, sometimes with notes of bananas and tropical fruit, but has been criticized for sometimes smelling of acetone. We will see.

The wine itself is 100% Pinotage. The grapes are grown in the Swartland vineyards, Malmesbury and Piekenierskloof, Appellation of Durbanville.  The production run was a total of 5000 bottles and was aged in older French oak barrels for 6 months. Alc. 14%.

This is what I found. David Frost Pinotage

This wine when poured has a brilliant Plum/Ruby red color with not much in the line of fingers.  The nose has a hint of oak and spicy plum that is mild and pleasant. The flavors run from plummy to a peppery mouth-coating dark fruit. It has a long finish with mild tannins.

We paired this with grilled pork, butternut squash, and garlic Brussel sprouts that went perfectly. This is the perfect barbeque wine. I enjoyed the light well-structured taste. Wine Enthusiast gives it 86 points and I do agree. The purchase price was $12.99 and worth it.