Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage 2023
| Producer | Diemersdal |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Durbanville |
| Wine Type | Red Wine |
| Body / Style | Full-Bodied Red |
| Grape Blend | 100% Pinotage |
| Bottle Size (ml) | 750 |
| % Abv | 15 |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Special Features | Sustainable, Vegan |
| Extra Info | Plush, powerful, polished |
| Food Pairing Guide | This flagship Pinotage deserves a special-occasion meal. It’s magnificent with rack of lamb with a herb crust, slow-roast lamb shoulder with garlic and thyme, or spiced lamb koftas with mint yoghurt and pomegranate. Rich game is a superb match, such as venison loin with a blackberry jus, roast pheasant or ostrich fillet with a dark chocolate and chilli sauce. Its plush dark fruit and spice go well with beef Wellington, braised short rib or oxtail stew, and with duck breast in a plum or cherry sauce. Vegetarians could try a wild mushroom and truffle risotto or a porcini and chestnut pie. Finish with aged Gouda, mature Comté or a sliver of dark chocolate. Decanting for an hour or so before serving will help it show at its best. |
Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage is the estate’s flagship red and the ultimate expression of its Durbanville terroir. For the Louw family, now in their sixth generation at Diemersdal, Pinotage is a cornerstone of South African wine identity, and The Journal is their finest tribute to it. The grapes come from the estate’s oldest bush vines, nearly fifty years old and unirrigated, growing in deep red soils on north-facing slopes. These old vines give tiny yields of small, intensely flavoured berries, and the wine is then made in small lots and matured at length in fine-grained French oak. This release has been awarded five stars in Platter’s South African Wine Guide and a Double Gold at the Veritas Awards.
In the glass it is deep and vibrant, with aromas of black cherry, ripe plum and sweet oak spice. The palate is powerful yet plush, with dark fruit layered with savoury, spicy notes and fresh hints of thyme and mint. Soft, velvety tannins and well-integrated oak give it a polished, refined structure, and the finish is long and lingering. It shows how elegant Pinotage can be. Enjoy it now with lamb or game, or cellar it with confidence for many years.
