Storm Wines - Vrede - Pinot Noir 2018
Storm Wines is located in the Hemel-en-Aarde area, in South Africa. After 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley ("Heaven-and-Earth" in Afrikaans) working intimately with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Hannes Storm discovered two tiny parcels of land with particularly exceptional terroirs. The two vineyards, one in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the other in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, were planted in 2008 to Pinot Noir. The Hemel-en-Aarde has a maritime climate, influenced by the cool Atlantic Ocean, it is considered an exceptional cool-climate winegrowing region. Small production, careful viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar and a constant nod to the Old World present the wines with distinctive personality and character.
Vrede Pinot Noir hails from a steep, northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. The wine shows depth, purity and structure. Only 600 cases were produced. The Master of Wine Tim Atkin describes Storm Wines as "One of the world's greatest Pinot Noir Producers".
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir