Posts Tagged ‘Walker Bay’

Few grape varieties evoke as much reaction as Pinot noir. It is claimed to be the most terroir driven cultivar of all. It has even been accused of having none of its own flavour characteristics—“Its flavours are all the result of where it is grown.”

Pinot noir and cool climate viticulture go hand in hand. Certain countries seem to be more favoured but as ever with Pinot local specifics rule, world famous wines remain scarce.  Some claim that Pinot needs to have its roots in limestone-this is the favourable terroir in Burgundy. Instinct tells me that it is the porosity of limestone, which favours rapid decline in soil moisture, which benefits Pinot in Burgundy. Success with Pinot in Walker Bay has been on clay rich Malmesbury Shale soils. These allowing for added acidity and fuller body in the wines. The clays are perhaps in their own right ameliorating through their complex soil chemistry and shallow soil profiles, which limit the root zone and thereby limit vigour.  Another great wonder of Pinot noir is the absence of consensus surrounding modus operandi amongst winemakers. With over seven hundred years of history there still remains disparity amongst Burgundian winemakers concerning preferred winemaking tactics. Experience has to be of enormous benefit here. Is Pinot noir not a white wine variety, which only makes reds under special conditions? Such growing conditions are seldom practiced in the new world point to the need for high-density plantings. A practice which allows for low cropping levels on individual wines, a valuable practice which always favours the quality potential in the vineyard. Perhaps the greatest contentment and excitement in winemaking is the down right honesty there-of.

Wines express what they are; they reflect all mans input, which is converted into emotion, sensuality and finally passion. There is no other grape, which provokes more passion.

Pinnacle Pinot from the point of Africa!

Our recent 92 points for the Galpin Peak Pinot noir 2009, has inspired us to once again move forward at a pace with a sharpened focus on the continuous improval of the wines, starting in the vineyards!

Not only is our Pinot the kind of wine that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, as mentioned in the previous blog, but it is according to one of our clients in Germany one of those rare wines that can be enjoyed anywhere in the world!

The comment was based on the fact that on numerous occasion he had discussed with his clients, that often wines lose their character when they are tasted in another country, in a different season or at a different time of the day.  The statement made, was that our Pinot noir was so certain in its structure and aromatic composure, that this wine tasted just as good in the middle of a snowstorm a few months after having tasted it in sunny South Africa!

Pinot noir grapes

Well, how could we object this – a truly great wine can only compete with itself… and with the 2011 vintage looking good we hope to once again stir emotions and the senses when this bottling is ready to be probed!

“If you appreciate opera you will appreciate the analogy to Pinot Noir. Like opera, it takes intense preparation to put on a performance. Like opera, so much depends on who and what you have to work with. And, like opera, if the result is indifferent the audience will walk away. But if you get it right, if you achieve that high, perfect note that turns your skin to gooseflesh, everyone stands up and applauds.”

(Peter Finlayson)