2022 Ashbourne, Pinotage, South Africa

96 points, Tim Atkin MW
"One of the best Ashbourne releases yet, this fully justifies Anthony Hamilton Russell's claim that this often under-valued grape can produce world-class wines. Sourced from a six--year old 2.2-hectare vineyard on heavy clays, it's alluringly perfumed and intense, with potpourri and rose petal aromas, caressing tannins, pomegranate and wild strawberry flavours and a racy, balanced finish. 2025-35"

• South Africa – Hemel‑en‑Aarde Valley, Walker Bay • Ashbourne crafts site‑specific Pinotage and a distinctive white blend, setting a new benchmark for Hemel‑en‑Aarde Valley wines. Founded in 1996 by Anthony Hamilton Russell, Ashbourne is a boutique estate devoted to the refinement of Pinotage and a singular white blend, Sandstone. The project was conceived as a focused exploration of Hemel‑en‑Aarde’s unique terroir, complementing Hamilton Russell Vineyards’ legacy of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The flagship Ashbourne Pinotage is known for its purity and restraint, setting it apart from bolder expressions elsewhere in South Africa. Alongside, the Sandstone White—a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay—captures maritime freshness and textural finesse. Both wines are produced in small volumes, reflecting the estate’s artisanal approach. The clay‑rich, stony soils of Ashbourne, coupled with cooling breezes from the nearby South Atlantic, yield wines with precision, structure, and salinity. These site‑driven qualities underscore the estate’s mission to create age‑worthy, world‑class wines rooted firmly in South African identity.