2024 Wolf & Woman Pinotage

Jolandie Fouché is part of the small group of winemakers actually making Pinotage exciting again. She has this knack for stripping away the heavy oak and over-extraction that gave the variety a bad name, instead focusing on the bright, aromatic potential of the Swartland. It is Pinotage, but not as your dad knows it.

The 2024 is a 50/50 split between two very different sites. Half comes from the granite soils of the Paardeberg for perfume and acidity, while the other half is from iron-stone soils northwest of Malmesbury, which brings the grit and the darker fruit. By picking each site twice, Jolandie captures both the zippy freshness and the deeper, riper character of the grape.

In the cellar, the focus is on a gentle touch. She used about 15% whole bunches to add a bit of spice and structure, with the rest kept as whole berries to preserve that pop of fruit. After a natural ferment, the wine spent 10 months in old oak barrels. It is just enough time to let it settle and breathe without the wood getting in the way of the story.

The result is a medium-purple red loaded with bright cherries, plum, and a hint of fynbos herbals. On the palate, it has a lovely chalky structure and a bit of earth that keeps it grounded. If you have been avoiding Pinotage, this is the bottle that will probably change your mind.