A South African wine magazine recently asked readers to rate their favourite and best-value red wines. Well up in the ratings came Beyerskloof, a direct and simple pinotage from Stellenbosch.
The result should not have been surprising. It turns out the winery, which made 37,000 cases last year, is owned by the winemaker of the landmark Kanonkop winery, one of the greatest classical Cape establishments, in partnership with the owners of that distinguished wine house, the brothers Krige.
Pinotage is a made-in-the-Cape grape. It was cloned from cinsault and pinot noir grapes back in the 1930s when Afrikaner scientists were seeking the ideal grape for the soils and climate.
It makes a nicely balanced wine, with the elegance of the pinot and the sturdy fruit-based character of the cinsault. The 97 now on sale ($96) through Northwest Trading (fax: 2554-5369) has a bright ruby hue and a pleasant nose.
Now the weather is blessedly warmer it is time to break out the barbecue, and this amiable red is just the thing to go with sizzling sausages and steaks.