WTN: 2005 Kanonkop Kadette

Varietal makeup: Pinotage, 43%; Cabernet Sauvignon, 29%; Merlot, 22% and Cabernet Franc, 6%.

14.5% alc./vol. Beautiful, clear medium-ruby colour with a medium-garnet hue. Fantastic signature South African leathery nose with gorgeous Pinotage-dominant aromas of banana, strawberry and plum. Some secondary spiciness - including Nevers oak - comes to the fore with swirling. Full, strong structure on the entry; well balanced, even seeming a bit sweet and warm; mouthfilling. Superb elegance all across the palate. Very pleasant, chewy tannins. Lots of elegant oak spice into the finish, which is dry and quite long. The saturation and density of this blend are not at the level of Kanonkop's famous varietal Pinotage, but Kadette is still an excellent wine in its own right and carries forth a good deal of Pinotage character.

Very nice with the oxtail potjiekos I made.

Thanks for the TN

You know, this is a wine that passes under my radar. I taste it at the winery and at tastings, really enjoy it but I haven't any in my cellar.

Its interesting that the cepage varies considerably from vintage to vintage. I was surprised to learn that they grow some Ruby Cabernet on the Estate and some vintages of Kadette have had up to 20% Ruby in it.

I tasted the 2006 Kadette last month, its looking good.

Kanonkop Kadette 2006
A classic Cape Blend of three Bordeaux varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon (32%) & Franc (9%), and Merlot (20%) - married to 39% Pinotage. It is immediately attractive, with ripe fruits, sweet blueberry and raspberry flavours, really enjoyable easy drinking. Owner Johann Krige says “it has sweet accessibility from Pinotage that you can’t get from Cabernet Sauvignon, but without getting too fruity".

[David M. Bueker]

Ruby cabernet? I think that's grown in the Pfalz among other places. (They also grow Cabernet Dorsa in the Pfalz - ever had that?)

I never even heard of Cabernet Dorsa before your post

[David M. Bueker]

I've actually tasted Cabernet Dorsa back in 2003. Alice Fitz of the Fitz-Ritter estate poured some at a German Wine Society conference in Philadelphia.