Redhill Pinotage 2020 - Simonsig

Wine of Origin South Africa, Stellenbosch.

Increased rainfall during the winter months of 2019 and the concomitant increase in dam levels have led to greater water availability for South African vineyards.
Conditions remained favorable, except for some wind during flowering and rain in December, which required meticulous management of the vineyards. Moderate temperatures and dry weather created an excellent season.
Above average yields with healthy and excellent quality grapes for this Redhill Pinotage. An intense season that required immense concentration and precise execution from harvest to bottling.

The harvest was carried out by hand at optimal ripeness on February 5, 2020. After a meticulous selection in the vineyard, the grapes are destemmed and pressed in two open-air fermenters.
A total of 20% of the grapes are fermented as a whole bunch. Two days of cold maceration before inoculation. Manual punching down every two hours allows for a short but intense extraction. The fermentation temperature reached 30°C.
Pressing after 6 days on the skins, with the alcoholic fermentation having finished in tanks.
Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels.
18 months of aging in French oak barrels, 70% new and 30% second-use.

Robert Parker: 92+;
James Suckling: 91;
Decanter: 94;
Vinous: 92;
Wine Enthusiast: 92.