Mixed red and dark berry fruit, rose hip, lifted cocoa, typical and the unique orange rind character imparted by the vineyard site. Red and black cherry fruit, umami, roasted chestnuts, silky medium grained tannins, balanced acidity and the wine will gather further complexity with age.

• South Africa    Elandskloof Valley

• 100%

  Pinot Noir

   

• Alcohol

    14.0%

• Award

    Neil Martin 93 pts "Highest rated Pinot noir in South Africa"

• Award

    Tim Atkins 95 pts

Origin:

Kaaimansgat Vineyard, Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp

The soil is shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout. This vineyard lies at 700 m above sea-level and is surrounded by tall mountains, making for a unique terroir ideal for the optimal ripening of this cultivar. Pinot noir clones 115, 667 & 777. The vineyard was planted in 2008.

Vintage 2022:

This was a superb vintage with good conditions for set and ripening. The wine is intense and graceful, yet rather powerful. The tannin is silky, medium-grained and is supported by fresh acidity, which brings the desired tension and a sense of weightlessness. I love this vintage, as it reminds me of riding my horse Fiver on the future vineyard site.

Winemaking:

Grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted, grapes are cold-soaked, fermentation is spontaneous, post-fermentation maceration is complete when the tannins are optimal and the wine spent 10 months in 228 liter French oak barrels (26% new and older). My approach is as minimal intervention as possible.