Diemersfontein The Original Pinotage 2023

Description

WineDrop on Diemersfontein The Original Pinotage 2023

The wine that made waves and defined a category — Diemersfontein’s Coffee-Chocolate Pinotage remains one of South Africa’s most iconic reds. Crafted with care in Wellington, this bold Pinotage offers a signature profile of mocha, dark chocolate, and ripe black fruit, balanced by soft tannins and a long, smooth finish.

Behind the bold flavour lies a meticulous winemaking process. The grapes are given a cold soak for 12 hours to deepen colour and intensify aroma. Fermentation is kickstarted with selected yeasts, with aerated pump-overs every three hours to extract just the right amount of richness, structure, and character. Once pressed off at 2.5 °B, fermentation finishes on French oak staves, where the wine also undergoes malolactic fermentation on its primary lees — enhancing mouthfeel and depth.

After fermentation, the wine is racked and matured further on French oak staves for six months, resulting in that now-famous balance of toasty coffee, dark fruit, and velvety texture. Smooth, satisfying, and unmistakably Diemersfontein — this is the original coffee-style Pinotage at its very best.