Bellevue Estate ‘Houdamond’ Pinotage 2009This is Bellevue Estate’s standard Pinotage relabelled for UK supermarket Marks & Spencer as Houdamond as M&S likes to have exclusive labels. Because the name Bellevue has already been trademarked in several countries, the Estate also uses the name Bellemore and Morkel, latter being the owning family’s surname, in various markets.
Bellevue were one of the first to plant Pinotage, they have one of the oldest existing vineyards and they made the world’s first varietal Pinotage, 1959 vintage, which was marketed by the SFW co-operative under the Lanzerac brand name in 1961.
This is the wine that converted my friend who was convinced he hated Pinotage. It was back in 2011 and Houdamond Pinotage was one of the bottles on the table at our wine club’s annual dinner dance. I asked him to just try a mouthful and to pour away the rest of the glass if he didn’t like it.
When, a couple of days later, I went to buy some for myself, the shelf was empty. My friend had bought a case, the other branches of M&S were also stripped bare by other club members. Eventually I managed to get just 3 bottles.
Anyway, said friend had a barbecue last night and he magicked up his penultimate bottle of that original purchase for us to enjoy.
Eight years later it tastes very young, with fresh juicy plummy flavours with the oak supporting structure without announcing its presence.
Lovely stuff, 2009 vintage from this estate was really something outstanding.
Viticulturist is owner Dirkie Morkel, winemaker is Wilhelm Kritzinger
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Bellevue Estate ‘Houdamond’ Pinotage 2009
WO Stellenbosch
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