The Swashbuckler Pinotage 2022

Winemaker at Flagstone Gerhard Swart isn’t the type of person to let a little drought stop him making the best wine he possibly can. In 2018, the driest Cape vintage in living memory, he set sail on a voyage of discovery to find the juiciest, ripest Pinotage. The result was a real hit red. Follow up vintages have been equally delicious, rich and long. This is the 2023, a year that boasted a cool summer and promoted slower-than-usual ripening. Gerhard is a skilful winemaker, leaving the grapes on the vine long enough to achieve full ripeness. In the cellar, he treated them with the deftest of touches to produce a smooth, silky Pinotage, with a lovely balance of bright plum fruit and a lick of toasty spice. Great with grilled meats.