Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,827 strong:

Register Today!

The Grinder Pinotage 2012 Wine Review

The Grinder Pinotage 2012

The Grinder Pinotage 2012

W.O., Swartland, South Africa

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 6

  Add My Review


Price: $14.95

Drink: 2013-2016

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: The Grinder

Agent: Colio Estate Wines

Natalie's Score: 89/100

Loaded with toasty oak, coffee, black pepper, dark spices, mocha and savoury dark fruit aromas. There's a seductive juiciness on the palate with full-bodied weight. Black plum and anise on the smoky finish. Highly recommended. Perfect for hearty meat dishes.

Pinotage food pairings: grilled meats, smoked pork, hearty mole based chili, pasta, black bean soup.

Smart Buy Wine

This The Grinder Pinotage 2012 was reviewed on January 1, 2014 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2015  2014  2013  2011  2010 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 883991
  • $11.02 
  • 1,829 bottles
StoreStock    
Nanaimo Terminal Park27 Add
Gorge & Tillicum26 Add
Chilliwack24 Add
Trafalgar Square24 Add
39th & Cambie24 Add
See More Edit

Reviews and Ratings

Stephanie MacNeil rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

This pinotage stands it ground with flavour. Hit in the face with aromas of coffee, espresso and dark chocolate. Familiar dark fruit - dark cherry and plum fill the mouth. This full bodied pinotage will go perfect with a beef dish like prime rib.
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

90 points for typicity!
My limited experience in the Sommelier world has taught me that one either loves Pinotage ( a South African specialty) or one does NOT!
This Pinotage is deep purple with thick legs showing extraction indicitive of the 14% alcohol and luscious friut in the glass.
Pronounced aromas and flavours of coffee, black fruit, cherry,cranberry, chocolate, espresso,cedar,smoke, toast,black pepper,earth,clove,blackcurrent leaf, vanilla, leather, BACON!
Yes...bacon.
Length is long on a fruit driven finish. This is a rich wine and I suggest sharing the bottle. It's at it's best right now. Not suitable for further aging.
Perfect summer BBQ wine.
Tasted: April 2014
Martha Kelly AIWS - CS rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This South African wine lives up to its name with coffee bean and chocolate over layers of blueberry, cassis, and plum mingling with tobacco and sweet spice.
The refreshing wine has ripe tannic structure, with balancing acidity and long length on the warming complex finish.
Pair with lamb and grilled beef.
Drink now or cellar until 2018.
Date tasted: November 2014.
Pinotage is noted for its coffee aromas and flavours, and The Grinder certainly delivers as promised. Aromas and flavours of cracked black peppercorns and roasted coffee with black plum, wild strawberry and a spicy bittersweet chocolate in support. Pair this espresso – sorry – expressive wine with grilled meats. Source: Vintages Wine Panel, June 2013

1 Member would buy this wine again

If you liked the The Grinder Pinotage 2012, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Poggio al Tesoro Red Wine
2021,
Bolgheri, Tuscany D.O.C. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,827 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award