Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage 2023

By the mid-1980s, Kanonkop was experiencing an ever-growing demand for its estate wines. This had led to new plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage. While the new vineyards were a blessing in terms of future increased volumes, the ethos of Kanonkop’s cellar, under Beyers Truter at the time, required that these newer vines reach a certain stage of maturity before the fruit was deemed good enough to be vinified into a wine that portrayed the depth and complexity associated with Kanonkop.

It was Jannie Krige who came up with the idea of making a second label under the name Kadette. The thinking behind the new name was logical: with the military association of ‘kanon’ (cannon) in Kanonkop, the Kadette was deemed a deserved junior to the more senior main brand.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS Warmer periods during the start of the winter resulted in some un-even budding, flowering and fruit set. The moisture levels in the soils were satisfactory throughout the growing and ripening phase, and very little moisture stress was noticeable on the vines. The ripening conditions during January and February were excellent with a late start to the 2023 harvest. This vintage produced elegant wines with softer tannin structures that will make them accessible and drinkable from an earlier age.

WINEMAKING / MATURATION Fermentation took place in open top concrete fermenters at 280C. The floating skins were punched down mechanically, every 2 hours during fermentation. The juice was drawn off the skins after 3 days. After malolactic fermentation the wine was matured for 12 months in 2nd and 3rd fill 225L French Nevers oak barrels.

TASTING NOTES Deep purple red colour. A bright, enticing nose of cherries, red and black plums, maraschino cherries, cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is packed with ripe cherries, black plums, mulberries, orange zest, blackberries, liquorice, cedar and layers of baking spices. Medium bodied with juicy fruit, refreshing, balanced acidity, fine grained tannins and a long satisfying finish.