Tasting - "Indwe Pinotage"

• Name: Indwe
• Variety: Pinotage
• Region: South Africa 
• Country: South Africa
• Year: 2013
• Price: Regular Price $12 Sale Price $5.95
• Shop/wine critic/winery review: A disclaimer: I have never cared much for Pinotage, the indigenous South African grape variety, but this 2013 Pinotage from Indwe, named after the country's national bird, the blue crane, comes across like a light Pinot Nior. Subtle notes of cherries, spice and forest floor are floored by a round, light to medium-bodied, pure, seductive, well-crafted wine (Robert Parker, Drink Now 2016). 
• My review: At first glance of this wine it my glass it is a very dark almost black color and one of the darkest reds I have seen. On the nose there is a lot of pepper smell that is mixed with a smokiness reminiscent of a steak on a grill. There is also a plum smell with a rich dark chocolate overtone that makes the sweetness more subtle. On the palate I am hit with a lot of black pepper that follows throughout the entire taste. There is an earthy tobacco taste on the mid palate that is a bit of a turn off as I do not like the taste of cigarettes and this is very reminiscent of them. There are subtle taste of raspberries and blackberries on the midpalate but by the finish I am left with a peppery tobacco taste that is not appealing. 
• Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.