Hamilton Russell Vineyards Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir 2009 92+ Points

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir have shown an unequalled consistency over the last 3 decades, not only as South Africa uncontested leader or the New World at large, but in the arena of the world's finest Pinot Noir, yes including Burgundy!

Proprietor Anthony Hamilton Russell convictions and belief in his unique terroir, his greatest assets, have convinced even the most arduous skeptics, i.e die hard Burgundy expert, it is possible to make compelling, world class Pinot Noir at the southern tip pf Africa, showcasing restraint yet sensual, purity, pin point freshness and laser precision at less than a  fifth of the price (current release) of a top rated Grand Cru, 12000 km south of Burgundy, but most important of all a Pinot Noir with an unmitigated sense of place, the terroir is whispering to you from the glass.

With the current 2010 recently acknowledge by Robert Parker Wine Advocate, reviewed by Neil Martin, to be the first ever South African Pinot Noir to reach the magical 95 Points, I though let's see how the 2009 is developing, hence serving it to a customer last night.

Bright, cherry red with slight purple rim, still youthful, but starting to evolved.

Clean, moderate plus intensity, delicately ripe crunchy cherries, plums, cranberries, mineral burst with spicy subtle oaking, brush of cedar wood with an almost flinty smoky note.

Dry with moderate plus acidity, lots of energy, sappy freshness, moderate tannins lending just the perfect tightness, moderate plus alcohol of 13.5% abv, savoury, mineral follows through, saline, need time, best revisited in 2015, should peak around 2022+