2022 Ashbourne Pinotage Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Insider's Advantage
96TA
93RP
92VN
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Availability by location
Hollywood: 7 | San Francisco: 3 | Culver City: 1
96
Tim Atkin
Reviewed September 2024One of the best Ashbourne releases yet, this fully justifies Anthony Hamilton Russell's claim that this often under-valued grape can produce world-class wines. Sourced from a six--year old 2.2-hectare vineyard on heavy clays, it's alluringly perfumed and intense, with potpourri and rose petal aromas, caressing tannins, pomegranate and wild strawberry flavours and a racy, balanced finish.
Professional Reviews
93
Wine Advocate
The Ashbourne 2022 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Pinotage offers raspberry, red cherry and a hint of that black olive or scorched earth that you often get with this grape. Pinotage has thick skins, and you also get bitter rose petal. Some liken it to a cross between Nebbiolo (thanks to the tannins) and a Beaujolais. "Anyone who says Pinot Noir is hard to make obviously hasn't made Pinotage," says winemaker Emul Ross. Farming is easy but the grape is difficult to vinify, with risks of volatile acidity and Brettanomyces (high sugar can contribute to bacterial growth). Made close to the ocean, this Pinotage shows a pretty mineral theme. Emul Ross suggests serving it at a barracuda barbecue, and I can't resist but submit that suggestion to your attention. (ML)
92
Vinous
The 2022 Pinotage, grown on the estate's clayey soils, matured for 14 months in 400-liter barrels and 2,000-liter foudres. It has clean black plum and briar scents on the nose, with just a touch of melted tar coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit and fine-boned tannins, very well balanced with a touch of black olive on the finish. This is excellent—one of the best I've tasted. (NM)
Details
| Origin | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Type/Varietal | Other Red Wines |
| SKU | 1961665 |