WTN: Kanonkop Pinotage 2003

There's a bit of strawberry on the nose and only a hint of nail polish. Quite a bit of oak. Full bodied with sweet, ripe fruit. Alcohol is 14.5% but doesn't show. Impressively balanced wine. This has soft tannins and the right amount of acidity to balance the sweet fruit. Finishes very long with some smoky/leathery character. Excellent stuff and real easy to drink.

Jay, many thanks for this note.

I've seen the Kanonkop at Vintages but it's price has soared to a whopping $45 - it used to be $32.

I've always loved this wine nonetheless, and I feel that your descriptors of strawberry, that tiny note of Pinotage volatility and smoky leather are absolutely 100% spot-on. Lots of people dislike Pinotage for these aromas - yet they are exactly why I love it, and why I will spend the money for Kanonkop and every other assertive example of the wine.

The 2003 vintage is one of Kanonkops more approachable when young Pinotages. My usual rule of thumb is tKanonkop needs keeping 10 years before drinking.

It spent 16 months in mostly new French oak, which accounts for you noticing wood, but I'm concerned you found 'nail varnish', that shouldn't be there. I didn't notice any when I tasted it.

2003 was a great vintage for Stellenbosch. I've been drinking a lot of L'Avenir's 2003 - which is just over the road from Kanonkop.

Jay, many thanks for this note.

I've seen the Kanonkop at Vintages but it's price has soared to a whopping $45 - it used to be $32.

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Hi Paul,

The prices you quote are very high compared to the prices in Manila. It costs a little less than USD 22.00 here.

I'm concerned you found 'nail varnish', that shouldn't be there. I didn't notice any when I tasted it.

The volatility was noticed just after the wine was poured. A few swirls of the glass got rid of it right away.

The prices you quote are very high compared to the prices in Manila. It costs a little less than USD 22.00 here.

Jay, that is pretty much what it was traditionally in Ontario. I really don't know who set the price so much higher in recent times, but it seems that something happened along the distribution or maybe marketing chain to cause it. At the old price point, I thought Kanonkop was a real bargain for all the substance that the wine offers and for its long ageworthiness. Kanonkop's Pinotage isn't just the best Pinotage in the world IMO - it's easily one of the best reds in the world.

I really don't know who set the price so much higher in recent times, but it seems that something happened along the distribution or maybe marketing chain to cause it.

Well, the LCBO are one of the largest wine buyers world wide, so with their clout they should get it at a good price.

In UK the 2003 is 14.95 GBP, same as previous vintage. That works out to 26 USD, but includes all three UK taxes. (Wine tax - a flat rate, Duty - dependent on alcohol and wine type, and 17.5% VAT on top applied to wine duty & wine tax)

LCBO is charging you equivalent of 22.20GBP

Seems to me your monopoly is ripping you off.

So no surprise there, then.

Seems to me your monopoly is ripping you off.

Indeed. This is the exact info off their website:

KANONKOP PINOTAGE 2002 Coop.Winegrowers Assoc. Of S.Africa South Africa VINTAGES 987537 750 mL $ 45.95

I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw the new price.

[Robin Garr]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw the new price.

Since LCBO is a public agency, Paul, they should be under some obligation to respond to questions from taxpayers. Have you ever tried to pry information of this type out of them, perhaps with the help of a local elected official like the alderman or council person for the district you live in?

David Cohen could probably provide some insight on this for Toronto, as I believe he holds an elected post of that type himself.

I've never bothered with that, Robin. Usually I'll just look at the price of a given wine and if I don't feel like buying the wine, I'll get something else. I like Kanonkop and will likely buy it, but not as often as before. I've also found that many other estate Pinotages are every bit as good, though less concentrated, than the Kanonkop - and typically sell for between $18-22.