Southern Right Pinotage

A highly individual expression of South Africa's unique red grape.

This is an intense classically styled wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Following fermentation the wine was aged for around 9 months in a mix of new and previously used oak barrels which nicelyt rounded the primary fruit. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil make really showcase the capabilities of this variety.

Great with spicy and smoky meat dishes, in fact, most things from a classic South African Braai are made for it.

Founded by Anthony Hamilton Russell in 1994, Southern Right's aim is to produce serious, age-worthy Pinotage combining distinct South African fruit and flavour, with classic styling and refinement. Pinotage is best-suited to cooler areas such as behind the old fishing village of Hermanus where the stony, high clay content, shale-derived soils chosen for the vineyards are perfect for creating the intended classic style of the wines.

The wines are named after the rare Southern Right whales, which frequent the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay, just three kilometres from the vineyards. In August 2005, when the 448 ha farm on the western border of Hamilton Russell Vineyards became available, Anthony acquired the unique property as a permanent home for Southern Right and the Cellar was completed in time for the 2009 harvest.

Anthony is a firm believer in conservation and manages more than 200 hectares of pristine Cape Mountain Fynbos which forms part of the Estate's own private nature reserve. With each bottle sold, Southern Right makes a contribution to conservation in the area.