Allée Bleue Pinotage 2023 has been awarded a 94 rating in Winemag.co.za’s 2025 Prescient Pinotage Report, further cementing the iconic Estate’s status as the leading Pinotage producer in Franschhoek.
This exceptional Pinotage is crafted with grapes from the Bottelary hills in Stellenbosch and matured for 16 months in barrel (55% new). The wine opens with floral perfume, plums, red and black cherry, vanilla, oak spice, and a subtle touch of earth. The palate is elegant and structured, showing good fruit clarity, fresh acidity, and firm yet polished tannins.
According to Allée Bleue CEO Dr Edo Heyns, significant new plantings of Pinotage, due in 2026, are testimony to the property’s commitment to Pinotage. In celebration of the South African wine industry’s 100th anniversary of Pinotage, Allée Bleue is hosting a panel discussion on 9 September 2025 about the next 100 years of this extraordinary proudly South African varietal, as part of Cape Wine 2025.
“The style of our 2023 Pinotage is indicative of a shift from just bold and big to balanced and sophisticated. A greater understanding of the varietal is resulting in fine wines, without excessive extraction or new oak. Consumers and critics alike are taking note of this and it’s certainly also reflected in increased interest in Pinotage across the globe,” explains Dr Heyns, who will be chairing the panel discussion at Cape Wine.
Allée Bleue winemaker, Van Zyl du Toit, explains that because it ripens early, Pinotage was not affected by the wet conditions later in the 2023 season. Furthermore, an earlier harvest resulted in a Pinotage “true to its core”: elegant and refined.
Allée Bleue, nestled at the confluence of the Dwars and Berg Rivers at the gateway to the Franschhoek Valley, boasts a distinct terroir defined by its dominant round cobblestones. Winemaker Van Zyl du Toit notes that the vineyard's unique site produces wines with remarkable energy and fruit intensity. With new Pinotage plantings set for 2026, Allée Bleue is demonstrating its confidence in the future of this variety, which is increasingly showcasing its ability to produce refined and elegant wines. Pinotage's early ripening and hardy qualities also make it well-suited to adapt to climate change.
For more information, please contact Allée Bleue directly.