Warwick Estate is a high-end South African winery in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. The Estate has a rich farming history dating back to 1771.
Then a fruit farm, Warwick only emerged on the forefront of South Africa?s wine scene when Stan and Norma Ratcliffe bought the estate in 1964 and started developing the land with an extensive focus on the classic Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Through determination and commitment, Norma Ratcliffe became one of the Cape?s first female winemakers ? and one of its most illustrious wine personalities, whose legacy is immortalised in the Warwick ?First Lady? range.
Many folk may not know that, in the 1970s, South Africa produced world famous red blends comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault, which combined the finesse of Cinsault with the power of Cab. The Pitch Black blend is Warwick Estate's #retro tribute to this Golden Age.
If there was a ?renaissance man? wine in their range, this would be it. It carries all the dark, brooding ripe fruit of classic barrel-aged Stellenbosch Bordeaux, combined with a delightfully progressive component of whole-bunch, tank-fermented. The Cinsault adds a layer of clean, bright, juicy berry fruit, over the otherwise quite weighty affair. Ready to enjoy now, but will continue to develop well over the next decade.