Cap Maritime, Pinot Noir 2019

The nose is intense and inviting with aromas of wild strawberry, youngberry, coffee, black cherry and whiffs of iris, violets, potting soil and dried leaves. The perfume of the nose follows through onto a rich, elegant, brooding palate exuding black fruit, with flavours of blueberry, ripe plums, blood orange, fresh cherries and hints of cloves, tobacco leaf and cola creating exceptional complexity. The mid-palate is round, smooth and balanced with svelte tannins and refreshing, yet integrated acidity. The wine ends with notes of allspice and cinnamon, liquorice, cedar and potpourri lingering on a vibrant finish.

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is one of the most exciting places to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in South Africa. Cap Maritime sits perched on top of a ridge separating the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde appellation from the Valley. It is here where we endeavour to create wines that capture the essence of their origin, while at the same time representing a style that we aspire to.

The Pinot Noir vineyards are situated in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation and planted on distinctive soils comprising of
Table Mountain sandstone and decomposed granite. The 2019 vintage yielded small compact bunches with a low juice-to-skin ratio, adding richness without overtly ripe fruit. The resultant wine displays fresh fruit flavours, concentration and energetic acidity.

Our Pinot Noir was picked and sorted into small lug boxes and transported in refrigerated trucks to our winery in Franschhoek. At
the winery, a careful triage (selection process) took place, to ensure that only healthy whole berries were transferred into concrete
fermentation tanks. Most of the grapes were destemmed, leaving a whole-cluster component of about 25% with no additions being
made. After spontaneous fermentation, we transferred 60% of the juice to Stockinger 2,500L Fourdre, and 40% to new French Oak
barriques for elevage of up to 15 months, including a prolonged malolactic fermentation under low temperatures.

• Alcohol: 13.98% vol
• RS: 1.58 g/l
• TA: 5.2 g/l
• W.O. Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley