2024 Wolf & Woman Pinotage

93 pts
A total vibe shift for Pinotage that swaps the heavy smoke for bright, crunchy Swartland fruit.

Price:
Sale price$42.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 3 units left
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Description

Jolandie Fouché is part of the small group of winemakers actually making Pinotage exciting again. She has this knack for stripping away the heavy oak and over-extraction that gave the variety a bad name, instead focusing on the bright, aromatic potential of the Swartland. It is Pinotage, but not as your dad knows it.

The 2024 is a 50/50 split between two very different sites. Half comes from the granite soils of the Paardeberg for perfume and acidity, while the other half is from iron-stone soils northwest of Malmesbury, which brings the grit and the darker fruit. By picking each site twice, Jolandie captures both the zippy freshness and the deeper, riper character of the grape.

In the cellar, the focus is on a gentle touch. She used about 15% whole bunches to add a bit of spice and structure, with the rest kept as whole berries to preserve that pop of fruit. After a natural ferment, the wine spent 10 months in old oak barrels. It is just enough time to let it settle and breathe without the wood getting in the way of the story.

The result is a medium-purple red loaded with bright cherries, plum, and a hint of fynbos herbals. On the palate, it has a lovely chalky structure and a bit of earth that keeps it grounded. If you have been avoiding Pinotage, this is the bottle that will probably change your mind.

93 points - "50% of grapes from Paardeberg, 50% from northwest of Malmesbury. 15% whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 10 months in old oak. Notes of plum, cherry, fynbos, spice and earth on the nose. The palate shows dense fruit, moderate acidity and powdery tannins, the finish carrying a touch of bitterness that adds rather than detracts. Characterful and none too light. Alc: 13.1%." - Christian Eedes (Wine Magazine South Africa)

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

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S
Sean H.
Pinotage

Very easy drinking red

WOLF & WOMAN is a blend of two different vineyards.
One being located in the Paardeberg region, situated in decomposed
granite soils.

The second vineyard located North West of Malmesbury and grows in ferricrete soils.
Two pickings were done from each vineyard, providing us with berries
with varying characteristics. This, in turn, gave the final blend more character and depth. All of the grapes were hand-picked early in the morning, packed in crates, and rested in a cold room for 24 hours.

Bunch sorting was done the next day, after which the grapes were
transferred to open-top fermenters – 15% whole bunch, and the rest
destemmed and as whole berry. It cold-soaked here for 4 days before
natural fermentation started, supported by one punch-down per day.

Once fermentation was completed the wine was left on the skins for 7 days before light pressing, and then transferred into a combination of old 300L and 500 L barrels. The vintage was then allowed to mature for 10 months before it was racked, blended, and bottled.

COLOUR
Medium purple
NOSE Aromatics of bright red cherries, plum, dried herbs and spice

PALATE
Vivid fruit, chalky structure with a balanced acidity

COMPOSITION
100% Pinotage

ORIGIN Swartland

VINEYARD
This wine is a blend of two different vineyards. 50 % from Paardeberg region, Aprilskloof and 50 % from North West Malmesbury.

VINE AGE
Average 18 years old

YIELD
Average of 5 tons/ha

TOTAL PRODUCTION
5 000 bottles

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinotage
Country South Africa
Region Swartland
Feature Women in Wine
Critic Score 93
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Cork

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