This is the first time I’ve ever tried a Pinotage so it’s difficult for me to know how Zarafa’s compares to other wines of the same varietals. For me, it was a complete different experience in wine. I can’t quite describe the sharp flavor with which its greets you. Wood? Dark chocolate? Dark chocolate covered wood? I read somewhere that it smells like band-aids and I have to say I agree, but the taste has me dumbfounded. Following that is a medium-to-light body, which disappears into nothingness. Am I drinking water? It does have a lingering flavor, somewhat sweet and plumy. But very earthy and leathery. Yes, I think that’s the right word, leathery.
In all, it was a complete new experience in wine for me – though it did remind me of certain Argentine table wines. It’s not an experience that I enjoyed tremendously, but it was OK and I will finish the bottle. Mike, OTOH, didn’t like it at all.
Band aids isn’t a characteristic of the Pinotage variety. It is a descriptor of ‘brett’ -(Brettanomyces) a form of bacteria that can affect all wines and gives a band-aid, horse stable etc smell.
In small quantities some people consider it adds complexity, whle many feel that it is a winemaking fault.
You can find it in any wine, so don’t letthis put you off Pinotage. However, the Pinotage variety does demand careful winemaking and it might be worthwhile avoiding ones at the cheapest end of the price range.
More info on brett at http://www.aromadictionary.com/articles/brettanomyces_article.html
Cheers!
Hola Marga! I asked Google for ‘pinotage brett’ and your entry came up in the top 5 hits. I just opened a bottle of the 2005 Zarafa Pinotage and it still has that very Bretty character. Despite it, i do think i like it. I also have some Argentinian malbecs in my wine rack 🙂