Beeslaar Pinotage
What is Pinotage?
Pinotage is a crossing of two grape varieties, namely Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (known as Hermitage in years gone by), which was developed in 1924 by professor Abraham Perold while he was head of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch.
While miniscule plantings can now be found in other countries around the world, Pinotage remains South Africa’s unique selling point.
To read more about the history and characteristics of Pinotage, please visit the Pinotage Association’s website by clicking HERE.
Why Beeslaar Pinotage?
a proper vineyard site embedded in special terroir
precise winemaking with attention to the finest detail
patient maturation in carefully selected oak barrels made from trees up to 200 years old
And for that, we will always be filled with gratitude!
The Winemaking Process
The grapes for the Beeslaar Pinotage is sourced from a 2.5 ha vineyard, situated on a south-eastern slope at about 200m above sea level, and is in close proximity to the Simonsberg mountain north of Stellenbosch. The area gets around 650mm of rain a year mainly through the winter. One of the key quality factors is the south-easterly wind that blow through most of the summer, that does not only cool down the vineyards, but also limits the growth of the bushvine plants.
The predominantly shale soils found in this vineyard imparts a unique earthy character to the wine, while the old bush vines always result in a smaller bunch and berry size, producing a wine of immense colour and flavour concentration.
The winemaking philosophy is simple: open top concrete tank fermentation, with regular puchdowns of the skins every two hours.
This ensures a homogeneous, lower temperature distribution throughout the vessel to avoid the extraction of unwanted harsh phenolic compounds, while also exposing the fermenting juice to more oxygen which in turn helps to fix the colour of the wine.
After 3 days the juice is drawn of the skins, which are then pressed.
The wine is then transferred to 225L oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation and maturation will follow for a period of around 20 months.
The Beeslaar Pinotage is always a true expression of an incredible vineyard site and displays the power and concentration derived from these old bush vines.
Beeslaar Pinotage Fact Sheets & High Resolution Pack Shots
Click the links provided to download the PDF or Image files
Pack Shots
Awards & Ratings
Beeslaar Pinotage 2022:
- Platter’s Wine Guide 2025 – 4.5* (93 points) “Complete, impressive & ageworthy 2022. Sumptuous, rounded, with layers of dark plum, cherry & dried herbs, rich vanilla & molten chocolate enveloped in satin tannin & perfectly judged oak.” – Winnie Bowman, Platter taster
- ABSA Top 10 Pinotage 2024 – Top 10 Winner
- Tim Atkin MW S.A. Report 2024 – 96 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2021:
- Platter’s Guide 2024 – 4.5*
- Christian Eedes (winemag.co.za) – 95 points
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report 2023 – 94 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2020:
- Global Fine Wine Challenge 2022 – Double Gold
- Platter’s Guide 2023 – 5 stars
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report 2022 – 96 points
- ABSA Top 10 Pinotage 2022 – Top 10 Winner
- Christian Eedes (winemag.co.za) – 95 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2019:
- ABSA Top 10 Pinotage 2023 – Top 10 Winner
- Wine Enthusiast – 93 points
- Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge – 93 points
- Platter’s Guide 2022 – 4.5* / 94 points
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report– 95 points
- Decanter Magazine – 95 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2018:
- ABSA Top 10 Pinotage 2021 – Top 10 Winner
- Platter’s Guide 2021 – 4.5*
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report – 96 points
- Greg Sherwood MW – 95 points
- Wine Spectator – 91 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2017:
- Platter’s Guide 2020 – 5*
- Christian Eedes – 95 points
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report – 94 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2016:
- Platter’s Guide 2019 – 5*
- Christian Eedes – 95 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2015:
- Platter’s Guide 2018 – 4.5*
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report – 98 points
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report – Overall Red Wine of the Year
- Christian Eedes – 94 points
- Wine Enthusiast – 92 points
- Wine Spectator – 91 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2014:
- Platter’s Guide 2017 – 5*
- Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report – 96 points
- International Wine Report – 93 points
- Wine Spectator – 92 points
Beeslaar Pinotage 2013:
- ABSA Vintage Pinotage Excellence Awards 2024
- Platter’s Guide 2016 – 5*
- Veritas Awards – Gold
- ABSA Top 10 Pinotage – Runner Up
- Christian Eedes – 92 points
- International Wine & Spirits Competition – Silver
- International Wine & Spirits Competition – Silver Outstanding
Beeslaar Pinotage 2012:
- ABSA Vintage Pinotage Excellence Awards 2024
- Platter’s Guide 2015 – 4.5*
- Jamie Goode – 94 points
- Christian Eedes – 94 points
