IT WAS scored 95/100 at the 2024 International Wine Challenge in the UK and was then judged best Pinotage reviewed in Platter's 2025 South African Wine Guide. As such, the 2022 vintage of The Journal from Diemersdal will be routinely included among the benchmark examples of this South African variety during the year in which fans will celebrate its 100th birthday – 1925 having been when Stellenbosch University's Prof Abraham Perold planted the seeds from a 1924 experiment in which he crossed Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut).
The Louw family and their winemakers at Diemersdal estate in Durbanville specialise in Sauvignon Blanc, of which there are eight versions, but also Pinotage, of which there are three different expressions – the Reserve having built a great track record over the past 10 years, and The Journal introduced relatively recently as what the Louws call “the ultimate expression of Diemersdal terroir”.
DIEMERSDAL THE JOURNAL PINOTAGE 2022
WO Durbanville. 100% Pinotage. 48-year-old dryland (unirrigated) bush vines in deep red Hutton soils. Tight bunches of small berries hand-harvested, crushed and fermented in open-top French oak vats – a portion of the grapes fermented while still whole bunches. Malolactic fermentation in used French oak barrels. Wine matured for 22 months in new 225L French oak barrels.
Alc 15.1 | RS 1.5 | TA 5.5 | pH 3.7
Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Intense, bold red berry flavours with great complexity. Savoury and spicy notes as well as soft and velvety tannins.
Food Pairing Suggestion: Roast lamb with vegetables.
R385pb ex-cellar.
