Creation 2009 Hemel en Aarde Pinot Noir 87 – 89 Points

Creation 2009 Hemel en Aarde Pinot Noir 87 – 89 Points

Clear, bright, cherry / ruby red with vibrant purple rim, medium plus concentration, medium plus viscosity.

The slight questionable point about the colour was a touch too dark / extracted for a Pinot Noir, but that could also be the results of these virus free clone, giving more pigment, it’s actually quite similar to many Marlborough Pinot Noir, which tend to have that concentration.

Clean, medium plus intensity, but at the same time has austerity for a Cape Pinot, which normally tend to be quite upfront in fruit.

Notes of forest berries, earthy beetroot note, touch alcoholic, but can dissipate with prior decanting, complex.

The Pinot Noir profile was more defined after 15 hours of aeration. Fine oaking, showing good balance between old and new French oak.

Dry. Fruit follows through with prominent crunchy sour cherries, dark earth note evident, medium tannins lending good grip, along with medium acidity, medium plus aftertastes and complexity.

The overall mouth feels are delicate, with near perfect balance overall, as mentioned above the alcohol a touch on the high side.

The very positive note is it’s actually very Burgundian on the palate, need decanting for now or for the next 4 years, but will reward sheer drinking pleasure from 2013 until 2018+

It’s a style that reminded me of the very first New Zealand Marborough Pinot Noir, that suddenly make all sense and it was the beautiful 2000 Ponder Estate Marlborough or the 2001 Matua Valley.

If Newton Johnson Le Domaine 2008 and Hamiton Russell Vineyards 2007 are the most feminine of Hemel- en Aarde valley, then Creation is by far the most masculine style of Pinot Noir, fine effort indeed.

A fine listing Pinot Noir or for the private collector.

Should be excellent with slow roasted wild boar for now and as it matures more delicate fare such as goose confit or plain roasted.