Warwick Estate is located on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa's West Cape Province. This is a modern, international style with dark cherry, plum fruit flavours on a medium bodied, lightly spicy palate. Very likeable and an excellent introduction to South Africa's own red grape variety.
Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"Vibrant nose of rose petal, fresh currents, strawberries, cherry, and spice. The palate is bright with finely textured tannins, red cherry, strawberry, and ripe plums. finish. The finish, nice and dry with a hint of cedarwood and spice. Enjoy now or age for the next three to five years."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
89/100 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2021 Vintage)
"Bursting with bright red fruits, the 2021 The First Lady Pinotage offers notes of red and black peppercorn with soft savoury notions. Medium-bodied and sporting 13% alcohol, the palate provides juicy cherry flavours with crunchy red fruit and potpourri spice before displaying a balanced structure with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity. This Pinotage has a delightfully fresh finish that has me craving charcuterie."
90/100 Christian Eedes, winemag.co.za, October 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"The First Lady Pinotage 2020 from Warwick in Stellenbosch is not exactly new wave but it’s not old school either. Matured for 14 months in oak of which 10% was new, the nose shows red cherry, rose and a hint of spice while the palate is light (although not that low in alcohol at 14%) with succulent, clean fruit bright acidity and soft tannins. It doesn’t trade off chocolate flavour or massive extraction and is just very likeable."
Best Buy, Wine Enthusiast, April 2023 (2020 Vintage)
"Bright notes of red plum and cherry are honest on the nose of this enjoyable light-bodied red. The palate is fresh, displaying fruity notes and grass supported by crisp acidity. It finishes with notes of cherry."