Kanonkop, Pinotage Black Label, Stellenbosch, 2014

In my book, Kanonkop is the king of Pinotage - a grape which I confess to having a love hate relationship with. However, this is unquestionably one of the ones I adore, not least because it is their flagship take on the variety. The 2014 has just been released in South Africa and should hit the independent merchants' shelves in the next few weeks. Cropped at very low levels from bush vines which are over 60 years old this is richly complex and with dramatic black fruit, port like richness, spice, chocolate, bitumen, liquorice, toffee and floral juniper notes. The tannins are as ripe and rumbustious as is its foursquare flamboyant structure. Needs time, but will be well worth the wait. Just under 4,900 bottles made, so don’t delay. Tasted at Decanter Fine Wine Encounter 2015