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Bellingham The Founders Series Pod Red Blend 2023

This wine bursts with a vibrant mix of red and black fruits, with cherry, plum, raspberry, and blackberry taking center stage. Hints of dark chocolate and a delicate weave of savoury spices - cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg - add richness and depth. On the palate, it’s lively and refreshing, beautifully balanced with layers of flavor that unfold effortlessly. Elegant, expressive, and deeply satisfying - a wine that lingers long after the last sip.

With its rich fruit, fragrant spice, and refined tannins, this bold and expressive wine pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Ideal pairings include grilled lamb chops, slow-braised beef short ribs, smoky BBQ pork belly, and Moroccan lamb tagine, while mushroom risotto and aged cheeses offer a delicious contrast. For a sweet indulgence, dark chocolate tart or spiced poached pears make the perfect match. Versatile and full of character, this wine enhances every dining experience perfectly.
variety : Pinotage [ 58% Pinotage, 42% Shiraz ]
winery : Bellingham Wines
winemaker : Ricardo Cloete
wine of origin : Coastal Region
analysis : alc : 14.17 % vol  rs : 2.74 g/l  pH : 3.55  ta : 5.56 g/l  
type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full  taste : Fruity  
pack : Bottle  size : 750ml  closure : Cork  

The Founders Series is a very small selection of the best wine in the cellar. It follows the Bellingham style and maximum of 5 barrels are selected every year, but only bottled and released in exceptional vintages. The concept is to honour Bellingham’s pioneering founders, Fredagh and Bernard Podlashuk, affectionately known as Freda and Pod.

This power couple’s bold vision not only for their iconic brand, but the South African wine industry as a whole, left a legacy for the ages. A rare greatness and inspiration, something that these special wines aim to emulate.
in the vineyard : This wine is a harmonious blend of Pinotage from Stellenbosch and Shiraz from Darling, showcasing the best of both regions. The 2023 vintage was particularly outstanding for Pinotage in Stellenbosch, with grapes sourced from a low- yielding vineyard in the Helderberg ward, producing just 6 tons per hectare.

This careful selection results in deep concentration and pure, vibrant flavours. The Shiraz hails from Darling’s rolling hills, where cool Atlantic breezes shape the vines. As one of South Africa’s coolest winegrowing areas, Darling’s dryland conditions push the vines to produce intensely flavoured grapes, rich in dark fruit and spice. The result? A wine with bold character, depth, and elegance.
in the cellar : Upon arrival at the cellar, the grapes undergo an additional round of berry selection and sorting to ensure only the highest-quality fruit progresses. The Pinotage was hand-punched during fermentation, while the Shiraz was carefully pumped over to achieve ideal colour and tannin extraction. After malolactic fermentation, 40% of the wine is matured in new French oak, 30% in second fill and 30% in third fill; barrels, for a maturation period of 16 months. Only 5 exceptional barrels were chosen, yielding approximately 2,000 bottles of this vintage.
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