Angus Paul is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names in South African wine. Recently a contender for Rising Star of the Year, Paul made a striking mark with his 2024 release and is hailed by Tim Atkin as ‘a young winemaker with a stellar future’.

This bottling will be an ongoing project to source, blend and bottle special parcels of Pinotage across the Western Cape and become an expression of each vintage through the grape’s proverbial lens

Grapes are hand-picked and cooled overnight. They were then fermented in open-top bins. Of the grapes, 15% were foot trodden whole bunches, and the remainder destemmed. A light sulphur addition was made at crushing. Natural fermentation took place over 10 days after which a maceration was carried out until the tannins had developed satisfactorily (about 5 more days). After draining, the remaining grapes were pressed to old wooden barrels.

A spontaneous malolactic fermentation then took place, and in early Autumn wines were sulphured for the first time. Wines were bottled in December after having spent 11 months in barrel with no racking.

Tasting Notes: This vintage shows fruit abundance and generosity. The nose is loaded with waves of red and black berries, dark cherries and star anise. The palate is equally fruit forward: round, gentle tannins are coated in a bouncing fruit abundance. The acid is fine and taught. A vibrant, new-wave style brimming with bright red and black berries, dark cherries, and star anise spice.

Food Pairing: Its juicy fruit profile, fine-taut acidity, and gentle tannins make it an exceptionally food-friendly red that pairs wonderfully with charred meats, earthy vegetables, and spiced dishes. Meat and Braai Pairings: Charred Boerewors: The smoky, savory notes from the grill play nicely against the bright berry and star anise accents of the wine. Grilled Lamb Chops: The rich protein content of lamb softens the wine’s fine structure while accentuating its dark cherry core. Pork Ribs with a Sticky Plum Glaze: The fruit-forward abundance in the glass handles sweet-and-savory barbecue sauce with ease.

 ANALYSIS: ALC 13.5% | TA 5.1g/L | pH 3.70 | RS 1.2g/L