An amazing blend of Pinotage, Cinsault and Pinot Noir from Beyerskloof at South China Dim Sum on Long Street, Cape Town, yesterday with Charles Withington, Mr. Darling wine.

Called trail dust, it is not dusty at all but rather fully fruited and soft with no rude Pinotage “iron banana” characteristics. Certainly the good features of firm tannin structure and opulent fruit from South Africa’s own red grape are present. Well priced at R100, this is a new style Cape blend being equal parts of all three cultivars. It is of course a family affair as the parents of Pinotage are Cinsault and Pinot Noir.

Should I take a leaf out of Winenag.co.za’s book and score it sighted 93/100 and then phone up Beyers and offer to sell him some stickers? Fortunately Ed’s dim sums are cheap enough that desperate measures are not yet called for. Just another bottle of trail dust. Which is presented with some homespun philosophy from Louis L’Amour, that trail dust is thicker than blood. Stellenbosch has been the scene of some spectacularly bloody murders recently, so talking about blood in a Stellenbosch wine is certainly brave. Perhaps the wine should be renamed trial dust.

A 2014 edition, this is the maiden vintage of a wine that is sure to become a Cape classic like Kanonkop Paul Sauer and Meerlust Rubicon.