David & Nadia 2018 Pinotage Swartland

88
David & Nadia Wines 2018 Pinotage Swartland 12.5% $30

This is an unusual wine as it took ages to open up. The first day, it showed dull and flat. With just a few ounces out of the bottle, I put stoppered it and put it back in the wine fridge. Two days later, it was exactly the same. Back into the wine fridge under vacuvin. 

Nine days later, it finally came out of its shell. 

Tasting of boysenberries, mulberries and licorice, this elegant, streamlined wine shows integrated acidity and slightly gruff, dry-ish tannins. Still, the medium-minus body is nicely framed and is highly drinkable on its own or with a light meal. Its open version would even show well as a chilled wine, but otherwise chilling would serve only to further tamp down its aromas. However, the wine has little concentration and its finish evaporates. It seems as if the "light touch" philosophy ended up being too light. I would not recommend paying over $20 for this wine.
Drink: 2020-22