Pinotage wine often flies under the radar, and this particular Deluxe Pinotage from Lidl is especially elusive as it isn’t listed on Lidl’s website.
The Pinotage grape was first cultivated in 1925 through the crossbreeding of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut by Abraham Izak Perold, the inaugural Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. Known for its rich colour and robust flavours, Pinotage is typically associated with South Africa, though it is also grown in countries like New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Switzerland and Israel.
Lidl’s Deluxe range is curated to offer a touch of luxury at affordable prices. This particular wine, with an alcohol content of 14%, is sourced from South Africa’s Coastal Region but is bulk bottled in Germany. Unfortunately, while more sustainable, this process means it loses its provenance and the winemaker’s signature on the bottle remains untraceable. There’s a hint that it might be produced by Perdeberg, a notable name linked with Fairtrade, which this wine also is, though this connection remains unconfirmed.
Upon opening, this dark red wine has a blackcurrant aroma complemented by a slight earthy, mushroom scent. It has a less oaky taste compared to other Pinotages I have had, focusing instead on a medium intensity black fruit flavour. However, what really stands out is its unexpectedly silky and smooth mouthfeel. Although labelled as medium-bodied, it leans more towards medium to full, suggesting that its description might be a bit modest.
Typically priced at £6.29, this wine becomes even more attractive during promotional periods at Lidl, such as the holiday season offer at time of writing, where it is available at a 30% discount, except in Wales where the discount is 10%, when purchasing three or more items from the Deluxe Wine range, reducing its price to an impressive £4.71.
