| McGregor | McGregor (Robertson) |
|---|---|
| Pieter Carstens first Pinotage at McGregor is the 2000 vintage. 100% Pinotage from 4 year old trellised vines. |
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2000 - light pale colour, sweetish nose, soft berries flavours and medium length. (PFM 5/01)
2000 - "Basic good clean wine with adequate fruit, from, I think, young vines." (Pamela Vandyke Price 5/01) | |
| McNab | Mendocino County, California |
| 2001 saw the Mendocino County's first Pinotage. Less than 300 cases were made from fruit grown in neighbouring Napoli Vineyards." | |
| Magnotta |
Ontario Canada |
| Magnotta have two pinotages under their label on their list, both 1994, one barrel aged. They import wine in bulk, blend it with native Canadian wines and are able to sell it as Ontario wine. | |
| The tasting report we have for this wine can be summed up in one word - 'avoid'. | |
| Major's Hill | Simonsberg |
| 50ha of Robertson vineyards replanted in 1995. | |
2002 - Lovely dark purple colour, and rich spicy cassis flavours, good structure and soft tannins. | |
| Malwenn | Simonsberg |
| See Signal Hill | |
| Mamreweg | Groenhof |
|
Mamreweg Cellars changed its name to Darling Cellars as the
co-operative changed to a limited company. The Mamreweg name
remains for the wines in the value for money sector of the market
while more expensive wines will carry the Darling Cellar and
Groenkloof labels.
Not sure on which labels pinotage will be available. |
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| Tasting reports welcomed | |
| MAN | Western Cape |
| Unusual name comes from the initials of the owners three wives. | |
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2002 - Dusty estery nose, warm sweet cherry and chocolate on the palate; enjoyable. (PFM 10/02) 2001 - Very dark, bright high tones and suppressed esters, some spice, but rather ordinary. 14% alc (PFM 10/02) | |
| Marcus James | Brazil |
| Brazil's first commercially available Pinotage. |
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| Marcus James 1999 - thin pale red, light boiled sweet flavour. Changes while in glass to a farmyard smell and taste. (tasted Feb 2001) | |
| Marsden Estate |
KeriKeri New Zealand |
| The winery takes its name from Samuel Marsden, who introduced grapevines to NZ when he planted them in Kerikeri in 1819. Owners Rod and Cindy MacIvor with winemaker Michael Bendit make wines in their new winery in a tranquil setting beside a lake. |
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| tasting reports welcomed | |
| Meerendal Estate | Durbanville |
| Another vineyard increasing their plantings of pinotage. Very pleasant rooftop tasting facility with welcoming and knowledgeable staff. |
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1994 pinotage was excellent, silky smooth flavour. This is a newer, more
forward fruitier style of Meerendal. Previous vintages have been more
astringent, a change for the better in my opinion. (tasted at the
winery April 1997.) (1989 waiting tasting) | |
| Meerhof | Swartland |
| Meerhof is a new family business who've planted vineyards and opened a winery. | |
| 2001 - Barrel sample. Black purple colour with a strange nose reminds me of sloe gin, musty and alcoholic. Tastes better than it smells, light bright tones but astringent aftertaste. I'd be interested in tasting the final wine. Good. | |
| Middelvlei Estate | Stellenbosch |
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Grown and made on the estate by Tinnie Momberg. Read our interview with
Tinnie in the the March 1999 newsletter.
New winemaker, and now a new winelabel. Subtly updated reworking of the classic Middlevlei label. |
 
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2000 - Dark black red colour, soft warm with restrained plum and mulberry flavours backed by sweet oak tannins. Luscious. Excellent
13% alc (PFM 10/02)
1991 -
Closed nose, very dry and tannic, but complex with balanced fruit.
Not a typical pinotage, I wouldn't be able to identify it
in a blind tasting. It could be a mature claret. An excellent wine.
(February 1998) 1991 - I keep running into this wine and every time conclude that it is best described as "nice" but far from the best Pinotage that South Africa is capable of producing. Fruity, with pleasing soft tannins but a bit stingy in flavor, the wine is easy to drink but has clearly passed its peak. Drink now. Score 82. (Daniel Rogov 07/99) 1989 - When this wine was younger it had lovely wild berry and cherry flavors and smooth tannins. Alas, the wine is now rather tired and has picked up far too herbal aromas to make it truly appealing. Score 80. (Daniel Rogov 07/99) | |
| Middelpos | Cape |
| 2001 is first vintage. Farm is completely surrounded by four others and thus is known as 'middle post'. Vinified by Bellevue. | |
| 2001 Chocolate on nose, soft upfront fruit, but rather flat middle palate with tannic kick and hint of bitterness on aftertaste. 13.5% (PFM 02/2003) | |
| Millstream | Western Cape |
| Brand sold in New Zealand |
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| Good colour, weak on the nose, smooth on the palate with hints of raspberries and chocolate. Soft tannins. Not much of an after-taste. Easy drinking but nothing special (1997 Vintage - Allan Campbell Jan 99) | |
| Montestell | Paarl |
| Label of Boland Winery in US |
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| Montana |
Auckland New Zealand |
| New Zealands largest winery produces pinotage under the Saints Hawkes Bay label. |
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Montana 'Riverlands' Marlborough Pinotage 1982: Special winemaker trial wine, aged in new American oak, released for early consumption. Light and faded, this has matured to an ethereal state. The nose is fragrant with some smokiness. Still some vinosity and balance, there is acidity for life, though the fruit fades, leaving sweet oak. Many tasters were more positive. 14.0/20 (15/05/00 Raymond Chan at Regional Wines, NZ)
Montana Pinotage 1980: Gisborne fruited wine. Pale orange garnet. Some robustness of aroma and flavour, a little plain and simple with earthy tertiary notes, and little real fragrance. More weight than the preceding wine, but less fruit interest. 13.0-/20 (15/05/00 Raymond Chan at Regional Wines, NZ) | |
| Mont Rochelle | Franschhoek |
| I asked winemaker Justin Hay why choose Pinotage in the Franschoek Valley, not traditionally a home for this variety. He simply replies "I am quietely passionate about Pinotage. It's South African - no matter who else grows it - it'll always be South African." The vines were planted four years ago. The wine was pumped over for 20 minutes four times a day and pressed on the fifth day before maturing in mostly French oak casks for eighteen months. He uses French Champagne yeast. "It's neutral. I want to let the Pinotage express itself. It is a wine we are very pleased with, and one in which we hope will bring us a lot of success." | |
| 1999 - beautiful dusky dark red which opens up in the glass to a serious Pinotage that would pay back keeping. (tasted May 2001 IWSC by PFM) | |
| Mooiplaas | Stellenbosch |
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| Dark purple blue colour. Intence smell of sweet fruit and rasberrycandy. Fruity taste with low acidity. This style becomes heavy and short, but this wine has a little tightness in the finish which balances a bit. This is definitely not my style. (1998 tasted 3/99 by Arnt Egil Nordlien) | |
| Mooiuitsig | Robertson |
| tasting reports welcomed | |
| Moreson-Matin Soleil | Franschoek |
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2001 - Purple red, inviting nose, sweet ful fruits, plums, chocolate. good length, excellent. (PFM 02/2003)
2000 - Perhaps a bit unfair on this wine, coming across a well enough made wine but in a big, ripe, jammy style without any real distinguishing features, it came across as a bit boring. Time might well turn out a more interesting and complex wine. (Nick Alabaster 10/02) | |
| Morgonhof | Stellenbosch |
| Very pleasant surroundings well worth a visit although no tour is offered and no pinotage was available for tasting |
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| Tasting reports welcomed | |
| Mount Rozier | Helderberg |
| tasting reports welcomed | |
| Mount Simon | Stellenbosch |
| Export label of Slaley Vineyards | |
| tasting reports welcomed | |
| Mountain Shadows | Stellenbosch |
| Vinfruco label | |
| Tasting reports welcomed | |
| Mouton Excelsior | Franschhoek |
| Tasting reports welcomed | |
| Muddy Water | New Zealand |
| It is situated in Waipara North Canterbury It is a translation of the Maori - wai - water and para - sediment, muddy. The vineyard had it's first vintage in 1997. |
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| 2000 Pinotage - "equally as good as a Kanonkop wine,but quite different, more Pinot Noir like in character,and absolutely delicious now" (Richard Andrews Apr 02) | |
| Mukuyu | Zimbabwe |
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Mukuyu's winery and vineyards are at Marondera, 60
kilometers from Harare. 1.5 million litres are produced each year
from 100 hectares of vineyards which are 1350 metres above
sea level with an average rainfall of 860mm.
Pinotage is used as part of the blend in several Mukuyu wines, including the Symphony range Pinotage/Cinsaut Rose. The Mukuya range contains the only 100% pinotage.
P.O. Box 1813, Harare.
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I had the pleasure of drinking the Mukuyu pinotage several nights running
at Victoria Falls in 1996. I remember it as a light, refreshing wine. Tasting reports welcomed |
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club@pinotage.org