We are Pinot noir
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot noir
The Hemel-Aarde played a huge role in unlocking the true potential of Pinot noir in South Africa. Today Hemel-en-Aarde consists of 3 distinctive appellations, each showcasing their own unique characteristics in the Pinot noirs they so carefully craft from their unique terroir, proving the Hemel-en-Aarde to be ideal for Pinot noir production.
Enjoy a journey through each appellation, their Pinot noir story and even recipes to pair with Pinot noir from each appellation.
“Pinot noir is the journey - an expression of place, time and the love that nurtured it to reveal its character & mystery.”
— Sharon Parnell, Domaine des Dieux
“Pinot Noir at its best is an inspiring, elegant, delicate and multi-faceted wine offering intriguing complexity and depth.”
— Jean-Claude Martin, Creation
“I don't "make" pinot noir, it's watching me, deciding on what to reveal of itself... I am the conduit, the translator.”
— Craig Wessels, Restless River
“As a variety, Pinot noir is in my opinion the most articulate communicator of the personality of site and soil. It unlocks all the ancient mysteries of a particular site with an uncompromising honesty. If the site has little to say, so will the wine. If the site is a privileged one, then, in the right hands, the story the wine tells is a deep and intellectual one. Almost spiritual. For those of us with the privilege of owning our sites, and having a strong emotional connection to them, their story told through Pinot noir can be particularly moving. I love the grape unconditionally for this ability. Each year a different story, but each year the essence of a particular place with a new interpretation. Beauty unseen by man alone, unextractable by man alone, but possible through this remarkable grape.”
-Anthony Hamilton Russell, Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pinot noir
Few places on Earth, discovered so far, give rise to an expression of Pinot noir which transcends the essential varietal simplicity of this thin skinned, bright red fruited, fickle grape variety. Many regard the challenge as being how to make Pinot noir. The challenge would better be expressed as where to make Pinot noir. Much of the Pinot noir made outside Burgundy, however carefully, remains an attractive but unchallenging - almost unintellectual - varietal expression. Bright fruit charm and soft ease, without real depth, structure, or age-worthiness.
The particularly ancient and marginal, iron and clay-rich soil of the pioneering Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, climatically moderated by unusually close proximity to the cold South Atlantic, developed an early international reputation for producing extraordinary Pinot noir. Expressions of site and soil reaching way beyond the constraints of the variety. The wines have a muscularity and structure which has them often confused with the great wines of the Cote de Nuits in Burgundy, and their aromatic and flavour profile leans more towards a dark spice and savouriness than bright upfront red fruit. They are certainly not everyone’s idea of what New World Pinot noir should taste like, but they are of great interest to aficionados of fine Burgundy and of intellectually-styled, site and soil expressive, age-worthy red wines in general.
Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pinot noir
Meandering up the R320, Pinot noir is grown in the porphyritic Granite soils of the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. This appellation ranges from 4 to 8 km in proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The climate is cool and temperate, where parallel mountain ranges channel the southerly oceangoing winds through the appellation during the summer. These southerly winds in turn create regular sea mists and overcast conditions, moderating the temperatures in the upper valley. The annual rainfall is 850mm, with 50% falling in the winter months (May-August).
These conditions cultivate Pinot noir of aqueous nature. It’s fine fruits and perfumes are deep and profound, though they glance off hastily and change form. Pure and vivid red fruit embroidered with fresh violet and wilted rose petals, accentuated by the bass tones of dark fruit and earthiness. The thick velvet fruit and texture in the mouth is framed with fine, brittle tannin that reaches long into the finish.
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Pinot noir
Pinot noir is peerless in its innate ability to capture the essence of the place where it is grown. Compare it to more robust, almost imperious cultivars, where expression of terroir is often and easily overwhelmed by grape narcissism, and one is inexorably drawn in, romanced and entranced by Pinot noir’s elegant, accurate articulation of the concept of earth. This noble variety needs to be grown under cool conditions, ideal for the slow ripening of the grapes. The elevation of the vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, together with moderating breezes coming off the cold Atlantic Ocean keep the vineyards healthy and disease-free.
Beginning later than others to plant Pinot noir, brought with it the advantage for Ridge producers of accessing virus-free plant material with which to embark on our wine journeys. Virus-free vines create healthy fruit which naturally and importantly impacts the quality of the resulting wine.
Another huge plus factor are the 450million-year-old clay derived Bokkeveld Shale soils with which the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge is richly endowed. Pinot noir prefers a clay-type soil as this contributes to the structure and subtle gravitas of the wine.
Pinot noir at its best is an inspiring, elegant, multi-faceted and eminently drinkable wine offering astonishing complexity, poise and depth. It is at once regal, resplendent, magnificent and delicate, fine-boned, ethereal.
