Rijk's - Touch of Oak - Pinotage 2022
Rijk's is a winery located in Tulbagh , South Africa , east of the Atlantic Ocean with a Mediterranean climate. The Tulbagh Valley is surrounded by a mountain range reaching heights of 1,995 meters. Rijk's was established in honor of Rijk Tulbagh, Governor of the Cape from 1751 to 1771. However, it was not until 1996 that wine production began under the influence of Neville Dorrington , a food lover and collector of fine wines. He discovered 137 hectares of virgin soils that had never been cultivated with slopes facing north, south, east and west and the analysis of the vertical shale soils revealed the potential for low-yield, high-quality grape cultivation. The following year, 14 hectares of vines were planted, followed by an additional 12 hectares in 1998. At that time, different grape varieties were grown: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Shiraz and Pinotage, to experiment with those best suited to the climate. The first grapes were harvested in 2000 and after 12 years, Neville Dorrington became aware of the natural environment, the taste and flavors of the wines produced and decided to focus on the varieties best suited to the farm and the soil: Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Shiraz . In 2016, Tiger Dorrington , Neville's son, joined the winery as sales and marketing manager. The Dorrington family has always shared the dream of becoming a truly South African winery and therefore opened the Rijk's Hotel in the winery.
Rijk's Touch of Oak is made from Pinotage (a cross of Cinsault and Pinot Noir). A 48-hour cold maceration period was carried out before fermentation to extract color and fruit. Extraction during fermentation took place with pumping over 3 times a day. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels and the wine was aged for 18 months in 25% 2nd fill, 50% 3rd fill and 25% 4th fill French oak barrels .
Grape variety: 100% Pinotage
"A Pinotage with a rare balance: the ripe black fruit is enveloped in sweet woody notes, without ever weighing down. A touch of shade and freshness on an often sunny grape variety."
