94 points,"A very refined and elegant Pinotage. Carbonic maceration was used on a small part of the crop and the juice retained to blend in post-fermentation, adding extra fresh fruit character. A fresher style than the weighty 2016, this was matured in 400-litre barrels for nine months before spending more time in specially commissioned, neutral, Francois Frère foudres. One of the Cape's finest Pinotages, showing how good this grape can be in the right hands."- Decanter First released in 2001, Ashbourne sets the benchmark for Pinotage. With only nine barrels made, equating to around 2,500 bottles, it's a boutique collector's item for those in-the-know - and that collectability goes through the roof when the vintage is of the standard that 2017 was. It's worth noting that Wine Advocate has never rated a year in South Africa more highly than 2017. Crisp cherry, wild strawberry and ripe plum fruit flavours are laced with wildflowers, clove, sage, mint, oak and spiced rooibos tea. It feels instantly like a classic, calling for a roast dinner with all the trimmings, slow-cooked stews or classic European dishes like goulash, coq au vin or beef bourguignon. The beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley winery is owned by Anthony Hamilton Russell. Pinotage produced here is elegant and refined, far more reminiscent of fine Burgundy than it is of the slightly overcooked, rubbery and banana-flavoured wines that give this grape its unfairly dubious reputation. Prepare to be surprised.£6.67 per 100.00ml