The 2012 Kanonkop Estae Wine Pinotage, grown, produced and bottled by the winery in Stellenbosh, South Africa, cost under $25 and scored a good 15 Dionysian Points from their scale of 20.

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Grown as bush vines up to 60 years old without irrigation, it spent 18 months in 80% new French oak and 20% second year oak.

At 14.5% alcohol, a half a percent too high, the wine is five years away from peaking. It has black fruits like blackberry, toast notes, plum and earth, and is balanced with a medium after taste. A cross ( not a blend) of Cinsault from the Rhone, and Pinot Noir from Burgundy, this grape found a home in South Africa and represents the area.

Good Pinotage can age for two decades or more. This one is still purple and was consumed too young, but with an hour of air, it was quite enjoyable. It was carried back from South Africa  by Julie Kim of Los Angles and shared with me during a dinner of turkey, butternut squash and  an apple-nut salad. It worked nicely. In vino veritas.