Pinotage 2007 Trophy Wine Show | Rijk's Private Cellar

Elegance, finesse, complexity and concentration of fruit are the hallmarks of the wines of Rijk’s Private Cellar. We produce fine food wines to satisfy the sophisticated palate of wine enthusiasts from around the world.

Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage 2007 takes the Trophy.Again.

Chairman of the Trophy Wine Show, Michael Fridjhon announced last week that our Pinotage 2007, just released and awarded 95 points, received the Trophy for the Best Pinotage of the show. 1070 wines were entered in the competition. A Gold Medal is described as “superlative, world class”. Three Pinotage’s are produced at Rijk’s. Pinotage Touch of Oak – lightly wooded with exceptional friut, Pinotage Private Cellar – full bodied and complex, and Pinotage Reserve.

2000	Absa Top 10 Michelangelo International – double gold. Also best wine of the year Veritas – double gold Wine magazine – champion of the year
2001	Absa Top 10
2002	Absa Top 10 Veritas – double gold Michelangelo International – gold Concours de Mondial – trophy winner
2003	Michelangelo International – double gold and Trophy for best pinotage
2004	Absa Top 10 Michelangelo International – gold Swiss Air first class SA Young Wine Show – gold
2005	Absa Top 10 Michelangelo International – gold
2006	Absa Top 10 Michelangelo International – double gold International Wine and Spirits, London - 2009 and 2010 best pinotage in the world Hong Kong International Wine Show - Best South African Red wine
2007	Just released. Wine Magazine - 4½ Stars Trophy Wine Show – 95 points best pinotage

Publication from Trophy Wine Show Book

In Dutch the word ‘rijk’ means rich – a perfect description of how Tulbagh producer Rijk’s Private Cellar has been blessed with the quality produced here. Last year saw Rijk’s celebrate it’s first decade. With owner Neville Dorrington and winemaker Pierre Wahl, this go-getting cellar has notched up many prestigious awards for both reds and whites, showing a distinct versatility and obvious skill across the board.

Last years Trophy Wine Show saw the team winning the Trophy for the Best Chenin Blanc. But it’s our proudly home grown variety, Pinotage which first cemented Rijk’s Private Cellar as a serious contender for SA’s Pinotage crown. Numerous accolades over the years attest to a passion for this variety.

When Dorrington purchased the property he was adamant he would plant Pinotage with the aim of producing a world class food wine. Wahl insists it’s become his favourite variety – with Chenin Blanc and Shiraz.

Wahl travelled to the States to study the Californian’s approach to Pinot Noir – the variety crossed with Cinsaut which together produce this indigenous South African grape. He prefers the use of open fermenters, cold maceration prior to fermentation and malolactic fermentation in barrels.

The fruit for this wine is exclusively from Rijk’s vineyards and was handpicked in the cool of the night to retain freshness and flavour. The result is a wine with a deep ruby red colour. On the nose, expect a complex infusion of cherry and plum. These red fruit aromas carry through to the palate, supported by a full concentration of well integrated tannin and oak.

Wahl recommends one to decant this wine prior to serving and, for those with patience and cellaring capacity, it has 15 or more years of ageing potential. “Reflecting elegance, finesse, complexity and concentrated fruit, this wine embodies the character of the cultivar and our soils, and perfectly represents the hallmarks of Rijk’s Private Cellar wines,” says Wahl.

Having supplemented their Pinotage plantings last year the team is confident that their future, and that of this iconic variety, is looking very rosy indeed.

Written by Sara de villiers.