The Blacksmith Wines is the wine label that hides the secret identity of superhero winemaker Tremayne Smith. Tremayne began his career with Sijnn Wines – a label owned by Stellenbosch legend David Trafford, before being trained under another winemaking legend – previous International Winemaker of the Year – Andrea Mullineux.

At the time, Andrea went on record to describe Tremayne as one of the most promising young winemakers that South Africa had to offer.

Now at the helm of his own ship, Tremayne is enormously considered in his approach to viticulture and winemaking. He pairs closely with viticulturist Jaco Engelbrecht, on hardy cultivars that have already proven themselves in South Africa’s fairly harsh wine climates; cultivars like Cinsaut, Chenin blanc, Grenache Noir, Pinotage and even Muscat of Alexandria. The idea behind this is that if you work with cultivars that boast large swathes of old vines then  you can rest assured that these cultivars have adjusted well to the climate, and will need less intervention in the vineyard. His winemaking follows on from this, as he only uses native yeasts in his ferments, and adds sulphur as seldom as possible.

The Innervision Pinotage is a 100% Carbonic Maceration wine has been classified as an alternative red wine by the Wine and Spirit Board of South Africa. 

Here are my tasting notes and technical specs.

👃🏼 Upon opening there is more surly savoury hint of biltong shavings, briney green olives and dusty fynbos, along with a hint of smoky flinty stone notes. But this soon gives way to vivid notes of blackberry boiled candy, red cherry sherbet, and pomegranate.

👄 If the list of aromas had you worried that you’d be in for a tussle, you can relax. The palate offers a delightfully silky delivery of more blackberry and sweet plum fruit, illuminated by a red berry glow, featuring all the cherry, pomegranate and strawberry fruit that was promised on the nose. In time, this segues into gently tugging tannins and a hint of peppery herbal rocket leaf spice on the finish, rounded out by a playful touch of cherry fizzpop candy. A charming little beastie.

Wine of Origin Voor-Paardeberg. 100% Pinotage, fermented in stainless steel tanks. 100% carbonic maceration. Matured in a combination of stainless steel and old oak.