Fairview Paarl Pinotage 2020

Region: Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa

Vintage: 2020

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Pinotage

ABV: 14%

This wine is intense ruby red in colour. The nose displays aromas of cherry, raspberry and plum with hints of oak spice. The palate is full bodied with firm tannins, a juicy core of blackberry fruit, and well-integrated oak that lingers on the spicy finish.

Pinotage is a classic South African variety and originates from a 1925 cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (known as Hermitage in South Africa). The Fairview Pinotage blend is made up of a combination of fruit from trellised vineyards on the Fairview farm in Paarl and older bush vines in the Agter-Paarl region. The trellised vines are drip irrigated, while the bush vines are dry farmed and grown on deep, Malmesbury shale and decomposed granite soils, producing lower yields of intensely concentrated fruit.

The Fairview estate is one of the oldest properties in South Africa, with vines planted as early as 1699. It is situated approximately 50 kilometres from Cape Town, on the lower slopes of Paarl Mountain. The property was bought by Charles Back’s grandfather in 1937 and was subsequently run by his father, Cyril, before Charles took charge. Under his guidance, Fairview have been driven by an ethical philosophy based on social commitment, sustainability, and conservation. The estate has a committee comprised of elected farm workers which ensures equal opportunities and invests in education and training for the workers. In addition, it funds a company which allows the farm workers to make their own wine, lending them the use of Fairview’s winemaking facilities. While all its production is now certified as Fairtrade, Charles doesn’t use the certification as he wants to sell his wines on their quality. The excitement engendered by Fairview was recognised in 2014 when Charles was given the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the International Wine Challenge.