Lanzerac Pionier Pinotage 2022 is a classic Stellenbosch Pinotage that leans into the variety’s darker, more structured side, with ripe fruit, oak spice, and a sense of depth that suits its benchmark status. This is not a light or overly flashy expression. It is built with concentration and cellar intent, showing how Pinotage can carry both power and composure when handled with care.
The nose opens with ripe plum, black cherry, and warm spice, setting up a palate that is full-bodied and layered without losing focus. Dark fruit sits at the center, followed by notes of cocoa and cedar that add shape and detail. The finish is long and steady, with enough structure to give the wine real presence while still keeping it approachable. It would pair especially well with roasted lamb, venison, or a smoky mushroom braise, where its fruit depth and savory oak character can settle naturally into the dish.
Already expressive, this is a Pinotage that offers plenty now, but its structure and élevage suggest it should continue to develop well over the next several years.
Ratings/Accolades:
(2021) Tim Atkin: 92 points
The nose opens with ripe plum, black cherry, and warm spice, setting up a palate that is full-bodied and layered without losing focus. Dark fruit sits at the center, followed by notes of cocoa and cedar that add shape and detail. The finish is long and steady, with enough structure to give the wine real presence while still keeping it approachable. It would pair especially well with roasted lamb, venison, or a smoky mushroom braise, where its fruit depth and savory oak character can settle naturally into the dish.
Already expressive, this is a Pinotage that offers plenty now, but its structure and élevage suggest it should continue to develop well over the next several years.
Ratings/Accolades:
(2021) Tim Atkin: 92 points
After harvest, the grapes were de-stalked and hand-sorted before undergoing natural fermentation in open wooden fermenters. Fermentation lasted about 7 days, after which the wine was pressed in a small basket press. Malolactic fermentation took place in 225-liter French oak barrels, using a mix of new, second-fill, and third-fill wood. The wine then matured in barrel for a total of 21 months and was racked twice during that time to help soften the tannins and bring greater polish to the final wine.
Winemaker: Wynand Lategan
Winemaker: Wynand Lategan
Situated on the outskirts of the historic town of Stellenbosch, Lanzerac Wine Estate is a 300 year old private working wine estate in the Jonkershoek Valley, South Africa. Its also home to the world’s first bottled Pinotage and their range of award-winning wines have been honed to maintain the excellent quality that they have become known for.
