Created in 1925 by South Africa’s first professor of viticulture, the Pinotage grape is actually a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. South Africa’s signature grape definitely has its fans and its detractors. I am not a huge Pinotage fan as a single varietal, but in a wine like this Kadette where it is blended with Bordeaux varietals, I think it provides a unique character and makes this an exciting wine. The Kadette has a smoky nose with green pepper, star anise and dried fig also present. Additionally, there is an aroma which was most closely identified as pine resin by Leah, a wine expert friend, at a recent tasting. Although it is only moderately tannic, the wine has a lot of bite and nice acidity on the finish. This is a good value wine and worth a shot if you’re looking for something a little different. Food Pairing Suggestions: I think this Kadette is much more of a food wine than a sipping wine, and the dish that I would favor the most for a nice pairing would be bell peppers stuffed with ground beef and rice with plenty of garlic and onions. A traditional meat loaf would also be a nice accompaniment. For something more involved, think about slow braising a rabbit with a cheaper Pinotage and then drinking this Kadette alongside the final product.
