10 Fantastic Kanonkop Pinotage Wines (2024): Styles, Taste, Food Pairing

Kanonkop Estate is a prestigious winery located in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. 

It derives its name from a hillock (kop) where a cannon alerted farmers in outlying areas of ships entering Table Bay for a stopover before traveling to the Far East, in the 17th Century.

This historical estate is well-known for its Pinotage wines that reflect its unique terroir and modern winemaking techniques.   

Let’s explore the amazing Kanonkop Pinotage in detail - the different ranges and styles, the best bottles to buy in 2024, and some scrumptious food pairings.

Kanonkop Pinotage Wine: Range, Styles, And Characteristics

Kanonkop Wine Estate has two prestigious wine ranges, each with several delicious Pinotage styles:

1. Kanonkop Kadette Range

The Kanonkop Kadette range comprises two Pinotage wines:

• Kadette Pinotage Rosé: This Cape Town wine is full-bodied and dry with a delicate pink color, Turkish delight and sweet fruit aromas, and 14% alcohol. 
• Kadette Pinotage: This100% Pinotage wine has deep crimson hues and 14.4% alcohol. It has vibrant aromas of sappy plums and dried rose petals, a medium body, and sweet oak spice flavors.

The Kadette range also comprises a red wine made from a blend of Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. It has vibrant crimson tones, raspberry and plum aromas, with rich red fruit flavours.

2. Kanonkop Estate Range

Here are the Kanonkop Estate Pinotages:

• Estate Pinotage: ThisPinotage wine has vanilla and plum aromas. The palate has berry compote and wild bramble flavors with 14.95% alcohol.
• Black Label Pinotage: The Kanonkop flagship Pinotage wine has 13.5% alcohol, a deep purple color, rich black plum aromas, and sweet oak spice flavors.

Let’s take a look at some irresistible Kanonkop Pinotage bottles.

10 Best Kanonkop Pinotage Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here’s a list of the best Kanonkop Pinotage bottles to buy:

• 2014 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage
• 2016 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage
• 1995 Kanonkop Estate Pinotage
• 2003 Kanonkop Estate Pinotage
• 2016 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage
• 2018 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage
• 2018 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé
• 2019 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé
• 2015 Kanonkop Kadette Red Blend
• 2017 Kanonkop Kadette Red Blend

1. 2014 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($237)

This Cape Town wine has a complex nose of black cherry, plum, and dark chocolate. The palate is rich with velvety tannins and sweet fruit flavors.

2. 2016 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($210)

It is a 2016 vintage red wine with perfumy notes of cherry and a hint of spice. There are ripe red fruit and black plum flavors with subtle tannins.

3. 1995 Kanonkop Estate Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($249)

Here’s a South African wine with aromas of leather, smoke, and sappy plums. The palate has oak and black fruit flavors.

4. 2003 Kanonkop Estate Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($90)

Smoky bacon, cassis, and tobacco aromas permeate the nose, while silky tannins complement the wine’s blackcurrant and cherry flavors.

5. 2016 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($19)

This South African wine offers raspberry, black plum, and strawberry flavors. Aromas of sweet oak spice, vanilla, and smoked meat penetrate the nose.

6. 2018 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($17)

This 2018 Pinotage has lively aromas of fresh mulberries, allspice, and a meaty undertone. Elegantly displayed on the palate are beetroot, red fruit, and earthy flavors.

7. 2018 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($13)

Here’s a 2018 Pinotage rosé wine with a nose of white flowers and a hint of vanilla. Succulent fruit and refreshing acidity on the palate make for a delicious wine.

8. 2019 Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($13)

The 2019 rosé is coral pink, full-bodied, and displays fresh aromas of pomegranate and watermelon. Juicy summer berries complement the weighted mouthfeel. 

9. 2015 Kanonkop Kadette Red Blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($21)

Aromas of fruit, tea leaves, and vanilla beguile the nose of this wine. The palate is well-balanced with fresh acidity and a dry finish.

10. 2017 Kanonkop Kadette Red Blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($17)

Mocha, red fruit, and plum aromas dominate the nose of this wine, followed by blackberry and red currant flavors.

Mouth-Watering Food Pairings With Kanonkop Pinotage

Kanonkop Pinotage pairs excellently with various delicious foods like spicy Asian-style curries, barbequed meat, duck breast, and hearty pork belly.

The rose perfectly compliments sushi, prawns, and chicken salad.

Kanonkop Pinotage Winemaking

At the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain, Paul Krige and Johann Krige continue the legacy of their grandfather and Kanonkop’s founder, Paul Sauer. Paul Sauer was the son of the eminent South African politician, JW Sauer.  

Head winemaker Abrie Beeslaar took the helm from the estate’s former winemaker, Beyers Truter, in 2003. His wines consistently garner 90+ ratings from prestigious wine publications like Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator. 

Most Kanonkop Pinotage wines ferment in open concrete vats where the grape skins are pushed down mechanically for about a week before the juice is drawn off.

The wines undergo malolactic fermentation and age in French oak barrels for 12-18 months, which gives them a smooth texture and complex notes.   

For rose wines, grapes are pressed straight from harvest to prevent color extraction and aged on lees for three months before bottling. 

Get Your Hands On A Lip-Smacking Bottle Of Kanonkop Pinotage

From fruity Rose’s to their award-winning Black Label Pinotage, Kanonkop produces a variety of lip-smacking Pinotage bottles that reflect the brilliance of the Table Bay terroir. 

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