Crate Work Wines Pinotage, Swartland 2025

Selma Willemse, winemaker at A. A. Badenhorst, has named her brand after the crates (or ‘kissies’ in Afrikaans) which are such an essential part of harvest for quality-focused production: fetching, filling, emptying and washing crates which hold up to 20kg of hand-picked fruit is part of the (relentless) daily rhythm of vintage. Launching her pinotage with one ton of fruit in the 2021 vintage, this is her fifth rendition (now at two tons) – sourced from a bush-vine block on the Badenhorst Jakkalsfontein farm since its debut. This is instantly charismatic, with a captivating perfume of spicy red and blue berries on the nose and a peppery kick on the palate. Made in a super juicy and refreshing style, but this is by no means light and airy; it’s packed with generous, succulent fruit framed by powdery tannins, finishing long and lifted. Selma is deliberately looking for this ripe fruit character in the vineyard and then trying to do as little as possible in the cellar – ‘I want the attitude of pinotage,’ she says. Made with around 20% whole bunches, with de-stemmed fruit over the top, she punches down once or twice a day and presses to old barrel for maturation. This is a fresh take on pinotage that is reminiscent of Beaujolais in a ripe vintage, full of attitude and energy – and it’s delicious. The Wine Society is excited to be the first to import Selma’s pinotage to the UK and just 300 bottles are available.