Proud as punch- sharing Tim Atkin’s South Africa 2020 Special Report’s results
Tim Atkin MW just released his South African 2020 Special Report and we could not be prouder. The Hemel-en-Aarde region did a spectacular job and we are thrilled to share our success stories below.
WINES OF THE YEAR
We are proud to see the Hemel-en-Aarde dominance, not only in Pinot Noir but also amongst the Chardonnays in the Wines of the Year selection. Out of the 12 Chardonnays, 42 % are from the Hemel-en-Aarde region. 8 out of the 11 Pinot noirs came from Hemel-en-Aarde!
And even though our region is not generally known to produce Pinotage or Cabernet Sauvignon, two of our producers consistently continue to produce top quality wines for both these varietals, making them feature in their categories for Wines of the Year. This comes to show that the application of terroir is being expertly applied.
Chardonnay
2019 Creation Art of Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (96)
2019 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (95)
2019 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (95)
Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Restless River Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon, Upper Hemel-en Aarde Valley (95)
Pinot Noir
2019 Creation Art of Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (97)
2019 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir, Walker Bay (95)
2019 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (96)
2019 Newton Johnson Windansea Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (97)
Pinotage
2018 Ashbourne Pinotage, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (95)
CAPE CLASSIFICATION
We are immensely proud of our producers that have been incorporated in the Top 125 producers.
First growths
Hamilton Russell
Newton Johnson
Second growths
Creation
Restless River
Third growths
Ataraxia
Bouchard Finlayson
Fifth growths
Ashbourne
Bosman Family Vineyards
La Vierge
Tim’s Tasting Notes
Our members receiving 95 points and above
WHITES
Creation Art of Chardonnay 2019
96 points
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (13.4%)
Pricey it may be, but Art is an ambitious Chardonnay that more than delivers on the nose and palate. All sourced from an east-facing slope on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, it's a beautifully judged wine with subtle toast and grilled cashews on the nose, lemon and lime flavours, lovely texture and weight and a long, refreshing finish. 2022-27
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2019
95 points
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Valley (13.20%)
Unlike the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir in the fire-affected 2019 vintage, the Chardonnay was all made with estate fruit. Entirely whole bunch-pressed for the first time, it's a commendably bright, elegant and focused wine with less malolactic (10%) than normal, pithy acidity, a hint of stone fruit sweetn
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2019
95 points
Upper Hemel-en Aarde Valley (13.4%)
So much is written about the quality of the Newton Johnsons' Pinot Noirs that people tend to forget how good their Chardonnays can be. This hails from three separate parcels on, variously, clay, granite and stony soils and is a wonderful expression of the quality of the vintage. Pear, wet stone and orange zest flavours are framed by 35% new wood, with low yields contributing concentration alongside the freshness and zip of the cool year. 2021-27
REDS
Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2019
97 points
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (13.5%)
The best bottling of Art to date, this wouldn’t look out of place in a line up of GevreyChambertin Premiers Crus. Clone 115 supplies the raw material, all of it grown on an eastfacing slope, and what a wine it is: intense, aromatic and vibrant, easily handling its 50% whole bunches and 50% new wood. Structured, serious and built to age in bottle, with dark berry fruit and a dusting of Asian spices. 2023-30
Newton Johnson Windansea Pinot Noir 2019
97 points
Upper Hemel-en Aarde Valley (13.4%)
There is no Seagdragon bottling in 2019, alas, so this superb Windansea will have to satisfy fans of the Newton Johnsons' top Pinot Noirs. And what a wine it is! Lighter and more red-fruited than it usually is - it can be a bit dense in its youth - this is silky and fragrant with aromas of green malt, peat and red berries, tangy acidity and sinewy, savoury tannins supported by 33% new oak. 2022-29
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2019
96 points
Upper Hemel-en Aarde Valley (13.4%) Family Vineyards is a seamless assemblage of four parcels - Sandford, Mrs M, Windansea and Seadragon - and is the "archetype of our farm", according to Nadia Newton Johnson. Wonderfully sweet and refreshing, it's an acidity-led cuvée in 2019, with remarkable vibrancy and focus, fine-grained tannins and top notes of rose petal and fresh lily. The 20% whole bunches add some tobacco and fresh earth notes. 2022-29
Ashbourne Pinotage 2018
95 points
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (13.5%)
Made from a site planted in 1996 to make a single vineyard Pinotage - quite a bold move at the time by Anthony Hamilton Russell - Ashbourne was not produced between 2011 and 2015 and includes some new material in 2018. Grippy, firm and serious, it's a very ambitious red with some spice from the addition of stems, blackberry and red berry fruit and fine oak. Bravo! 2022-28
Creation Emma Pinot Noir 2019
95 points
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (13.5%)
J-C Martin only makes 1,200 bottles of Emma, made from a small block planted with the small-bunch 115 clone. Suitably serious and dense, this is taut, savoury and layered, with lots of blueberry and raspberry fruit, plenty of pepper spice from 50% whole bunches and effortless concentration. 2022-27
Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2019
95 points
Walker Bay (13.5%)
Made with 84% purchased fruit because of the fire in Hamilton Russell's own vineyards, this is a cuvée of the three Hemel-en-Aarde Valley sub-regions, and all the better for it. A one-off it may be, but it's less earthy and backward than the estate's normal style, combining fragrance elegance with racy red berry fruit, some clove spice, supporting tannins and stylish oak. 2021-29
Restless River Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
95 points
Upper Hemel-en Aarde Valley (14.5%) Picked as late as May 7th in 2017 - surely the last in the country - this brilliant, cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon is a one-off. Leafy, pure and alluringly aromatic, it has a wonderful combination of freshness, depth and intensity, fine-boned tannins, fresh acidity and layers of cassis and black cherry flavour and complexity. The oak is expertly done. 2022-29
