Vondeling 2016 Bowwood Pinotage has claimed a place as one of the best in South Africa with its first-ever win in the Absa Top 10 Pinotage awards announced – only the third pinotage made by the wine farm.
Last year, the second vintage, 2015, was awarded the JF Hillebrand Trophy for Best Pinotage overall in the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Award. The 2014 achieved 4.5 stars in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Platter’s South African Wine Guide, and the 2015 was rated as 4 stars in the 2019 guide. Vondeling Bowwood 2016 was the only wine from the small Voor Paardeberg ward in the Paarl district to feature in the competition.
This shows the consistency we are already achieving vintage after vintage. It’s a tribute to our small, site-specific, low-yielding Pinotage vineyard that delivers tiny berries packed with concentrated flavour and intense colour. – viticulturist Magnus Joubert.
“We make the Bowwood Pinotage with the specific intention that it must rival the very best wines in the world, and a focus on making a wine of exceptional ageability. Accolades like these confirm that we are on the right track,” Vondeling winemaker Matthew Copeland said.
The Bowwood has rich purple and red hues, an intense blackberry and cherry bouquet interlaced with sweet cloves and subtle vanilla oak. The wine is sensuous, with bold fruit and subtle spice aromatics persisting on the palate, with undertones of roasted almond and cigar. Tannins are finely textured, the palate broad and rich complemented by soft acidity – “a luxurious, full-flavoured modern expression of Pinotage” says Copeland.
Vondeling Bowwood Pinotage 2016 is available from selected specialist retailers and at the cellar door for R370.
Directions to Vondeling Wine Estate
Voor Paardeberg road
Paarl
