2019 Bernard Series Pinotage could be the best since 2013
BACK IN 2012, the 2010 vintage of The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage in DGB’s Bellingham portfolio earned a trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards, UK. In 2014, the 2013 vintage was a winner in the Pinotage Association’s Top 10 Competition, Cape winelands. Not long into 2023, the 2019 vintage earned grand gold and was judged best South African wine entered at the international Mundus Vini competition in Germany.
With the cellar in Wellington and the brand home in Franschhoek, The Bernard Series is the premium, boutique range of Bellingham wines with fine track records established over the years – the Limited Release Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Whole Bunch Roussanne, Basket Press Syrah as well as The Maverick blend of Shiraz Mourvèdre and Viognier (previously the Small Barrell SMV) all in the SA Wine Classification.
BELLINGHAM THE BERNARD SERIES BUSH VINE PINOTAGE 2019
Named after Bernard Podlashuk, co-founder of the Bellingham brand and maverick winemaker in the 1940s and ’50s. WO Coastal Region. 100% Pinotage, 67% of the fruit from Darling, 33% from Cape Town. Grapes hand-picked in the early morning and hand-sorted before fermentation in open-top concrete tanks where punch-downs took place every few hours for the first couple of days, followed by gentle pump-overs until pressing. The fermentations were generally quick, and the pressings took place after a maximum of five days on the grape skins. Gentle tannin extraction. Wine then racked directly to barrels where it was left to complete malolactic fermentation – two rackings during 14 months in 40% new French oak barrels.
Alc 14 | RS 2.7 | TA 5.7 | pH 3.6
Winemaker Richard Duckitt’s Tasting Notes: The nose opens up to bright red cherry, plum and violets that follow through onto the palate… Bold and concentrated in structure, while retaining its cool-climate freshness and elegance… A lingering berry fruit… Finishes with a silky, chalky texture that coats the mouth…
R220pb ex-producer
