Producer
Bruce Jack Wines is a vibrant, family-driven estate based in the Western Cape. Led by Bruce Jack and Marlize Beyers — partners in both life and winemaking for over two decades—they built the Off the Charts range to celebrate South Africa’s viticultural heart. They’re deeply rooted in Swartland and Breedekloof, driven by authenticity and minimal intervention. In 2023, their work earned them a place among the World’s Most Admired Wine Brands. Their approach is both innovative and respectful: they let terroir and varietal character shine through without heavy-handed manipulation.
Terroir & Winemaking
This Pinotage comes from carefully tended vineyards in Breedekloof, a valley nestled among the Slanghoek and Badsberg mountains. Soils here — rich with decomposed granite, clay, and quartz — drain well and encourage vine roots to dig deep. Warm days and cooling mountain breezes provide ideal ripening conditions, delivering ripe, expressive fruit with fresh acidity.
In the cellar, the team employs traditional and hands-on methods. Grapes are destemmed (but not crushed) and undergo a four-day cold soak to extract vibrant color and pure fruit aromatics. Fermentation takes place in open-top stainless steel fermenters with twice-daily pump-overs, followed by about two weeks of skin maceration. The wine is aged for 12 months, about 20% in new and seasoned oak barrels, which adds gentle toast and plush texture.
Tasting Notes
This Pinotage pours a deep garnet with enticing aromas of black cherry, plum, and dark chocolate, seasoned with spicy undertones. On the palate, expect a lush yet balanced experience — black forest cake fruit layered with hints of mocha, cedar, and mace. Silky tannins and lively acidity carry the wine through to a long, supple finish, offering lingering spice and soft oak warmth.
It’s approachable now, but its elegant structure hints at the ability to age with grace over the next few years.
Food pairing suggestion: barbecue kebabs.
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