Pinotage is unique to South Africa – a grape capable of making rich, long lived reds. This classic Cape wine was made by Paarl born Anton Swarts at one of country’s top, award winning wineries. Founded in 1692, near Stellenbosch, Spier Estate not only boasts a rich wine heritage, but within the domaine there is a hotel, restaurant, eagle conservation and a cheetah reserve – as well as the old house with its unrivalled 21 Cape Dutch gables that has given the wine its name.Anton selected grapes from a vineyard close to the ocean to create a particularly elegant Pinotage. He matured it in both American and French oak, so that a gentle smokiness complements the ripe berry flavours. Enjoy with rich lamb dishes or pork and chorizo casserole.

Pungent aromas of raspberry and red plums are tempered by the deft use of French oak. The palate is redolent with succulent, sweet fruit aromas and finely coated in ripe mouth filling tannins. Smokey and savoury oak characters provide a subtle background to this complex and well balanced wine.

In Bordeaux, different grapes perform at their best in different sub regions and according to vintage, so you rarely see them all together simultaneously. At Spier Estate in South Africa, however, in glorious 2009, perfectly ripe Merlot, Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot were all hand harvested in Stellenbosch and Darling. Winemaker Frans Smit then made each into a separate wine, ageing them in French oak prior to the ‘assemblage’. This blending process is an art whereby the wine’s balance and complexity are optimised. With broad plummy Merlot, firm cassis scented Cabernet and the ‘wow’ factor of Malbec and Petit Verdot, Creative Block is thoroughly appealing. Decant and serve with braised lamb shanks or roast beef.