A far cry from the overripe, smoky styles that gave Pinotage a tough rep, this bottling shows just how elegant and nuanced the grape can be. Made from old vines and cool sites—including the structured soils of Swartland—it’s all about dried raspberry, dusty cherry, and a subtle saline edge. The oak is restrained, the tannins are polished, and there's a beautiful sense of clarity and lift. Winemaker Emul Ross calls it perfect with Cape Malay curry—he’s not wrong.

The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Jun 05, 2025
Drink: 2024-2030

A Cape Coast wine, the Southern Right 2022 Pinotage is made with purchased grapes from the Swartland on loose granite soils. This site adds tannic structure. Made with old-vine fruit, the wine delivers dried raspberry, cherry and hints of dusty iron rust. The use of oak is downplayed, and the wine shines forth with pretty primary intensity backed by a pinch of saltiness. Winemaker Emul Ross suggests a pairing with one of those lovely Cape Malay chicken curries served in South Africa.

Southern Right is another sub-brand owned by Hamilton Russell Vineyards (along with Ashbourne) with Winemaker Emul Ross at the helm. The estate is named after the Southern Right whale (it was the "right" whale to catch thanks to its meat and oil). It is one of the six big endangered whales protected by conservation efforts. Nearby Walker Bay in Hermanus is a favorite spot for whale watching.

Vivino | Vivino 3.9

Southern Right is re-defining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure.

Southernright.co.za

Southern Right is re-defining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil, make this wine a highly individual expression of South Africa’s unique grape variety.

GROWING SEASON
This stellar vintage was later and cooler than usual. Based on our measure of temperature, the average of the maximum temperatures for the 4 hottest months (crucial to harvest) Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, 2021 came in at 24.3 Centigrade. This compares to 24.8 Centigrade for a long-term average of the equivalent period in Burgundy. In the last 25 years, only 2001, 2004 and 2008 have been cooler. Winter was wetter than usual with 140mm more rain than average, filling dams and building the water table beautifully. Chill units started accumulating later than usual and a cool Spring and later budding accounted for the later harvest. A warm January was a welcome help towards healthy ripening. Any disease pressure from rain showers during ripening was effectively controlled organically. Yields, as always for us, were low.

Technical Specs

Alcohol: 13.1%
Closure: Natural Cork
Harvest: 2022
Oak: 9 months in French oak barrels; 59% in 228-litre barrels and 41% in 400-litre barrels, with 14% first-fill oak
Varietals: 100% Pinotage
Farming: Certified sustainable viticulture; Integrated Production of Wine and Biodiversity & Wine Initiative Champion
Vineyard Area: Not confirmed for this wine specifically
Harvest: Hand-picked grapes sourced from Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (8%), Overberg (53%) and Swartland (39%)
Vinification: Carefully selected grapes fermented to preserve fruit purity and structure, followed by 9 months of French oak maturation. The winemaking emphasises the expression of the different soils and the grape's natural character
Winemaker: Emul Ross
Region: Cape Coast, Western Cape, South Africa

Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
Decanting: 30–60 minutes
Food Pairing: Grilled beef, roast lamb, venison, duck, Cape Malay chicken curry, hearty stews, roasted vegetables and mature hard cheeses