Chamonix Franschhoek Pinot Noir Reserve 2009 92 Points

Chamonix

Franschhoek might be one of the hottest district climatically, due to the fact it is enclosed on 3 sides, with no coastal wind cooling effect, this should be one of the most challenging place in South Africa to grow Pinot Noir, howver Gottfried Mocke the meticulous winemaker of Chamonix keep crafting one of the most compelling Pinot Noir from a vineyards planted at 550 metres above sea level.

Ruby red with slight garnet rim.

Clean, moderate plus intesity, with captivating ripe Morello cherries, cranberry and hints of strawberry, sandy / granite mineral with subtle spicy oak in perfect tune with the fruit, considering 80% was new French oak and 20% in second and third fill French Allier oak.

Dry with precise freshness, crunchy ripe tannins, intense mid palate stuffing, yet all indication tells this still embryonic, moderate plus alcohol of 13.5% abv shows it is possible to get elegance and ripeness with high alcohol from such a location, excellent purity of fruit, long persistent lenght, great now but will even be better from 2016, until 2022+