Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, South Africa – 100% Pinotage
An intensely perfumed nose of flowers, plum and dark cherry, with fynbos, earth and spice. The palate is vibrant and juicy, with bright acidity, firm but well-knit tannins and a long, subtly salty finish. It’s made from whole bunches and aged 11 months in older French oak.
Grilled sausages, roast duck and mushroom dishes all work beautifully, or make it your pizza night red.
The name comes from a game played at ancient Greek drinking parties: guests stayed seated at the table and flung the leftover dregs from their cups at targets around the room. Second-generation winemaker Reenen Borman uses the name for his small, experimental side project, separate from his family’s estate wines. The grapes come from the granite and ironstone soils of the Polkadraai Hills, and some vintages produce fewer than 2,000 bottles.