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Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage Review

Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage Review

Remhoogte Wine Estate is family owned and run and has a long history in South Africa.

The estate itself is on the slopes of Simonsberg, which is in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The original vines used by the estate date all the way back to 1812.

Many of the vines from the original estate were uprooted back in the 1990s, at which time the estate was relocated from the lower-elevated valleys in the region to the better-quality, high-altitude locations which feature better drainage and more suitable types of soil for wine production.

The vast majority of the work done by the winery is handled delicately and with intense attention to detail. The grapes are hand-pruned, hand-harvested, and hand-sorted.

Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage Review

Pinotage is a grape that was bred in 1925. It is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir and is actually substantially heavier than either of the parent grapes are.

This wine takes its name from the 2 hectares of vines planted high up on a granite-heavy ridge with a beautiful view over the town of Stellenbosch, a vantage point, if you will.

The average age of the vines is over 30 years old!

Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage Summary

  • Brand: Remhoogte
  • Country: South Africa
  • Region: Stellenbosch
  • Wine Type: Red Wine
  • Varietal: Pinotage
  • ABV: 14%

Appearance

The wine is incredibly dark red and dense in the glass. Swirling it around just a bit reveals incredible legs.

Thick and dense, they form quickly and readily cascade down the side of the glass.

Smell

The nose is filled with fresh, fruity notes of raspberries, plums, and cherries. There is also a dirtier side here.

Hints of earthiness, oak, and leather come through nicely, along with a bit of sweet pipe tobacco.

The aromas are somewhat reminiscent of more powerful examples of Tempranillo from Spain.

Taste

This is definitely a powerhouse of a wine, which is what I hope for when I crack into a bottle of Pinotage.

There are flavors of smoked, gamey meat, tar, pipe tobacco, and bacon fat, not entirely unlike a good bottle of French Syrah.

There is also a lot of big, dark fruit here to enjoy. I get plums, wild raspberries, and tart red cherries which thoroughly coat the tongue.

The structure here is teeth-staining and intense.

Big tannin, solid acidity, and a very full body help carry all of the flavors through nicely and help to make this a meat-eaters dream come true.

What Does Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage Pair With?

Again, in a single word, meat. This is a fantastic bottle to do with braised lamb chops, dry-aged ribeye steaks, and grilled meats of all sorts.

It is not uncommon to see bottles such as this one served at a braii in South Africa.

A braii is very similar to a barbecue, with a few exceptions. Meat is roasted over an open fire and enjoyed in a feast-like fashion before everyone settles in to enjoy the evening around the fire.

Sounds like a pretty perfect pairing to me!

If you aren’t a meat eater, don’t give up hope just yet! This bottle is also fantastic with heartier, flavourful vegetables.

Think eggplants, beets, and mushrooms. Your best bet is to char the veggies, as this will really help accentuate some of the smoky, spicy characteristics of the wine while uplifting the dish.

What Wines Are Similar to Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage?

If you like this style, I would recommend venturing out and trying other big, smoky, meaty wines.

Well-made Syrah jumps immediately to mind. I would recommend anything from Tensley out of California, as they tend to offer amazing value and tons of flavor.

If you really want to go for it, try Cornas from France’s Rhone valley.

Cornas has a reputation for being some of the heartiest, meatiest, most intense Syrah you can get your hands on!

Final Thoughts

This is a love/hate wine for a lot of people, I feel. It is big, robust, and very in your face.

If you like that style, as I do, then you are sure to fall in love with it.