‘Showstopper 09 (4.5*) has spectacular fruit purity, impeccably judged oak & great freshness. Medium bodied & well balanced, it’s almost impossible to resist now but optimal drinking doubtless many years off. 16 months in French oak, 70% new. Convincingly trumps savoury 08.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2012, 4.5*

‘As I have already mentioned, Pinotage has an under-appreciated propensity to age, hence my reason for publishing these notes. Kanonkop boasts some of South Africa’s oldest Pinotage plantings from 1953. The fruit is fermented in open-top fermenters with punching down every two hours and then raised for 18 months in oak, usually around 80% new. Abrie stressed that in his opinion, new oak is essential to make a truly great Pinotage. That is not a view that I would necessarily agree with, though on the other hand there is no question that Kanonkop’s Pinotage soaks up that new wood with style and it is completely subsumed with age. This is a lovely, sensual Pinotage. Drink 2015-2025’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (October 2013), 92/100