The Wine Villages Wine Forum | Understanding Pinot Noir
Black Beauty
The Wine Village hosted their monthly wine forum last night, the highlight of the evening was the array of delicious Pinot Noir available for tasting. Pinot Noir lovers had the opportunity to sample fine wines from Stellenboch, Elim, Eligin and the Hermanus Wine Route.
While Burgundy may be the benchmark for top Pinot Noir, today there are a number of producers in South Africa producing impressive Pinot Noirs. These include the cooler parts of South Africa, such as the Hemel en Aarde Wine Valley.
Gordon Newton Johnson, winemaker of Newton Johnson Vineyards was the MC for the event. He guided wine drinkers through various, vanilla, berry and herbaceous aroma fuelled Pinot’s from his own wine estate and that of Boplaas, Kleine Zalze, Strandveld, Oak Valley, Creation and Hamilton Russell.
Of course one of the wonderful things about Pinot Noir is their affinity with many different foods. They make for perfect pairing with grilled fish or chicken dishes. I think they work exceptionally well with a succulent roast leg of lamb and I cannot think of anything nicer than a glass of good Pinot Noir to compliment it
Wine list:
Boplaas Sparkling Pinot Noir – Upfront fruit flavours of strawberries, cherries and blackberries.
2012 Felicite – A pure scented Pinot Noir fruit showing sweet cherries and a hint of spice.
2013 Kleine Zalze – Strong cherry, herbal aromas with chalky dry tannins.
2010 Strandveld – Strawberry on the nose, with dark moist soil characters.
2011 Oak Valley – Ripe berry flavours of maraschino cherry, vibrant strawberry and raspberry notes.
2011 Creation Reserve – An inviting bouquet of spice – peppercorn and clove.
2012 Hamilton Russell – Pinot noir is not overtly fruity, soft and “sweet” and it generally shows hints of that alluring savoury “primal” character.
2012 Newton Johnson Walker Bay – Expressed in a range of flavours from vibrant cherry, raspberry, black currants, liquorice, cinnamon stick.
2012 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards – Pure and precise characters of fragrant cherries, currants, earthiness, and spice.
Keep your eye out for the next wine forum, it is not to be missed!
“Pinot Noir country. My grape. The one varietal that truly enchants me, both stills and steals my heart with its elusive loveliness and false promises of transcendence. I loved her, and I would continue to follow her siren call until my wallet–or liver, whichever came first–gave out.”― Rex Pickett, Sideways
Source: Wine Village – Cathy du Toit