Old Mates Pinot Noir 2023
Primary flavours
Cherry
Plum
Raspberry
Rhubarb
Rose Petal
White Pepper
Details
Floral and flirty, this Pinot Noir seriously overdelivers. From a single vineyard in Stellenbosch, it offers up a mix of ripe red fruits balanced by a hint of white pepper and some sweeping waves of acidity and very fine tannin. Soft and juicy, it drinks well chilled as well as at room temperature, and the bottle vanishes surprisingly fast :)
It's back! After visiting South Africa in 2018 to find exceptional wines to bring back to Australia, the most exciting discovery was finding an Australian making wine in Stellenbosch with his South African wife. Their wines, under the Craven label, are unique expressions of special vineyards in South Africa, and these wines are so so great. Mick and Jeanine met in 2007 while both working harvest in Sonoma, California. After bonding and then finishing their degrees, they decided to hit the road, see lots of things, work in lots of places and try and learn as much as possible from this massive wine world. Harvests in different regions in different countries eventually led them back to Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2011. They love this part of the world, and want nothing more than to express the area through their wines - let the grapes do the talking....
It's back! After visiting South Africa in 2018 to find exceptional wines to bring back to Australia, the most exciting discovery was finding an Australian making wine in Stellenbosch with his South African wife. Their wines, under the Craven label, are unique expressions of special vineyards in South Africa, and these wines are so so great. Mick and Jeanine met in 2007 while both working harvest in Sonoma, California. After bonding and then finishing their degrees, they decided to hit the road, see lots of things, work in lots of places and try and learn as much as possible from this massive wine world. Harvests in different regions in different countries eventually led them back to Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2011. They love this part of the world, and want nothing more than to express the area through their wines - let the grapes do the talking....
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Taste Profile
This wine’s tasting notes.
Sweetness
lowmediumhigh
Body
lightmediumfull
Fruitiness
nonesomelots
Tannins
lowmediumhigh
Acidity
lowmediumhigh
Oak
nonesomelots
Alcohol
low
(under 12%)medium
(12-14%)high
(14%+)
Taste Summary
This wine’s tasting notes are leaning towards light bodied, low sweetness, with medium acidity, very fruity, low tannins, medium alcohol and no oak.
Specs
Region
Stellenbosch
country
South Africa
Grape type
Pinot Noir
Wine Maker
Craven Wines
Alcohol
12.5%
Vintage
2023
Cellar period
5-10 years
Production method
Single Vineyard
Pairing guide
We never fail to get excited by Old Mates’ superb releases, and this Pinot Noir ticks all the right boxes as far as flavour, character and food-friendliness goes. It’s going to be absolutely delicious with rich and savoury stews, slow-cooked lamb, beef, duck, pork and game casseroles, roasted root veggies and all kinds of tomato-based pasta dishes. It’s also a top pairing for more robust fish dishes - roast side of salmon or sesame-crusted tuna steaks - and will work very nicely with brown rice recipes, mature cheeses and bitter greens like kale and Brussels sprouts.
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Food
Duck
Noodles
Tacos
Tastes
Light
Savoury
Moods
Excited
Contemplative
Seasons
Autumn
Spring
Recipe Matches
Wine region
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Stellenbosch is one of South Africa’s premier wine regions, located in the Western Cape, outside Cape Town. In South Africa, wine regions are known as winelands. Stellenbosch means ‘town of oaks’ and its winemaking dates back to the 17th century. The mountainous terrain, good rainfall, deep well-drained soils and diversity of terroirs make this a sought-after viticultural area. The wineland itself is known for high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay as well as the local speciality, Pinotage.
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