Indaba Pinotage Western Cape 2005 Reviews

Indaba Pinotage Western Cape 2005 Tasting Notes

Pinotage is synonymous with South African wine where it is extensively grown. It's a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault and was bred back in 1925. It hasn't spread to far away from home in South Africa but it can be found in California and New Zealand. Fortunately, Pinotage wines lean more towards its biological Pinot Noir heritage rather than its Cinsault genes and make for good medium-bodied wines that match with food very well. Indaba is a fairly new brand that began with the demolition of apartheid. The word Indaba is a Zulu word roughly meaning to gather in a community and communicate in an open forum where individuals can express themselves. A bottle of Indaba probably helps to lubricate discussion along these lines as well. This is a young, juicy red that is slightly chewy but vibrant. There's bright nose of cherries and toasted oak. The palate is resilient with cherry and blueberry flavors, bolstered with smoke, herbs, and notes of vanilla. The finish is not deep or focused but there are smooth tannins and good acidity to keep the wine in balance. A pleasant quaffing wine, it goes well with barbecue, pasta, and spicy foods. An additional note, a portion of sales of Indaba helps fund the Indaba Scholarship back in South Africa to assist students in the wine industry.