McFarlane Wines, Saturday’s Child Pinotage 2024
Alexandra McFarlane, winemaker and proprietor of McFarlane Wines, is incredibly passionate about South African ‘heritage’ varietals (working exclusively with Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Cinsault and Semillon) and the role that they have played in sculpting the evolution of the SA wine industry.
She handles the grapes as gently as possible in the winery in order to produce wines that are elegant, honest and undeniably moreish. She picks with freshness in mind, resulting in wines that are comparatively low abv, but maintains complexity through phenolic ripeness and extended lees contact.
Grapes are sourced from a single block of bushvines planted on shale soils on Welbeloond in Durbanville. Hand picked and rigorously hand sorted. 85% of bunches were destemmed before adding back the 15% as whole bunches – everything was foot stomped in open top fermenters where they underwent fermentation. 3 punch downs a day during fermentation were utilised for colour and tannin extraction. After fermenting dry, the wine was racked to 225L French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
On the 2024 vintage, incense, sumac, and rose lift from the nose, supported by subtle oak spice. The palate shows firm yet elegant tannins carried by bright pomegranate, mulberry, and plum. An earthy edge adds freshness and poise.
This wine is intensely perfumed with beautifully melting tannins—refined, focused, and true to its parent varieties, Cinsault and Pinot Noir.
It will benefit from time in bottle and a good decant.
£40.00
Durbanville
Pinotage
LightFull Bodied
Description
VARIETAL
100% Pinotage
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Alc: 14.17% | pH: 3.66 | TA: 5.5g/l | FSO2: 22ppm | TSO2: 71ppm | RS: 1.7g/l
ORIGIN
Western Cape – Durbanville
HARVEST & VINEYARD
The fruit for this wine comes from a single block of bushvines planted on shale soils on Welbeloond in Durbanville. Our friend Andrew Mellish farms this land and his family has been farming this land for over 100 years . He uses organic farming practices and recently had his farm certified organic. Strong ocean influence and constant winds keep the vines naturally cool through the heat of summer. Only minimal supplementary irrigation is applied, and then only at critical stages.
WINEMAKING
The grapes were rigorously hand-sorted at bunch level before 85% was destemmed into open-top fermenters. The remaining 15% was kept as whole bunch. Fermenting grapes were foot-stomped and gently punched down three times a day for 10 days before being pressed to tank. The wine was then racked into 25% new and the balance seasoned 225L French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and maturation. A gentle filtration preceded bottling.
TASTING NOTES
Incense, sumac, and rose lift from the nose, supported by subtle oak spice. The palate shows firm yet elegant tannins carried by bright pomegranate, mulberry, and plum. An earthy edge adds freshness and poise. This wine is intensely perfumed with beautifully melting tannins—refined, focused, and true to its parent varieties, Cinsault and Pinot Noir. It will benefit from time in bottle and a good decant. Pair with grilled sumac-spiced lamb chops and a vibrant tabbouleh salad.
Additional information
| Alcohol vol | 14.2% |
|---|---|
| Grape | Pinotage |
| Origin | Durbanville |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Wine Farm |
Pair with grilled sumac-spiced lamb chops and a vibrant tabbouleh salad.
2 reviews for McFarlane Wines, Saturday’s Child Pinotage 2024
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93 points | Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2025
“Part of Pinotage’s New Wave, albeit with 25% new oak, this is a wine that’s handled like a Pinot Noir. Ten per cent whole bunches add a touch of clove spice to a palate of wild strawberry and Turkish Delight framed by layered, fine-grained tannins. 2026-30.”
Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2025 –
95 points | Platter’s Wine Guide 2026
“Cool Durbanville parcel perfect for new-wave style: punchy freshness & exotic aromas of sumac, rose and incense. On palate, pomegranate, mulberry & plum unfold & get Campari lift & earthy edge. 11 months in 25% new small barrel add toast & melting tannins to superlative 2024, improving on 2023.”
Platter’s Wine Guide 2026 –