South African Legends Series ‘Abraham & the Heretics’ Pinotage 2020 Coastal Region, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

The South African Legends Series celebrates the people and stories behind Cape wine, and this bottle honours Abraham Perold, the Stellenbosch professor who crossed Pinot Noir with Cinsault in 1925 to create Pinotage. The wine is made by Villiera, the Grier family estate in Stellenbosch, and the name is a tongue-in-cheek nod to those who once doubted the grape’s worth.

Pinotage is South Africa’s own variety, and here it is made in a bright, unfussy style rather than a dense, heavily oaked one. The aim is drinkability, showing the fresh, red-fruited side of the grape with a light savoury edge, and it makes an approachable way to meet a variety that can be big and divisive.

This is the 2020 vintage, drawn from the broad Coastal Region around Stellenbosch. We hold limited vintage-specific detail for this wine, so the notes stay with the style rather than claiming verified harvest data.

Expect red cherry and raspberry fruit, a gentle smokiness and a savoury, lightly spiced finish. The tannins are soft and the wine stays light on its feet, so it takes well to being served slightly cool, especially in warm weather. There is enough gentle grip to carry a plate of grilled food, but nothing that gets in the way of easy drinking.

This is a sociable, everyday Pinotage with a good story behind it, made for pizza, burgers, grilled sausages or a relaxed braai. If you are curious about South Africa’s signature grape and want an easy, honest introduction, Abraham’s tribute is a friendly place to start.