Palate Press Wine of the Week: 2009 Dark Lady of the Labyrinth Pinotage

“Rubber” has become synonymous with Pinotage, at least partly due to the power of suggestion. But you won’t find a hint of it here, even if you try. Aging in heavily toasted oak gives the wine an aromatic nose of mocha, coffee, and chocolate along with the more typical Pinotage nose of smoked bacon. On the palate, cherry, plum and almonds mingle with the continuing mocha and bacon notes ending with a velvety smooth finish. Does not come across as your normal Pinotage! While chocolate or mocha desserts are a more obvious match, it would be fantastic with a more traditional Mexican dish covered in that chili-chocolate hybrid known as molé sauce.

WHO: Doolhof Wine Estate
WHAT: Pinotage
WHERE: Wellington, South Africa
WHEN: 2009
HOW MUCH: $19

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