Storm Wines’ Pinot Noirs have received high praise in the past, but we expect the class of 2022 to trump everything that’s come before! 2022 is a near-perfect vintage for the trio of Pinots, demonstrating Hannes’ deftness in the vineyard and cellar. The vintage offers beautiful balance and quality of fruit, allowing for great purity, terroir transparency and structural depth. Each of these exceptional single-vineyard Pinots carries the stamp of its appellation.
The Vrede Pinot Noir hails from a northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on low-vigour, Bokkeveld shale soil. This stunning wine is floral, perfumed and powerful, with serious tannic support, and will easily last a decade and more. ‘One of the greatest ever Cape Pinot Noirs,’ enthuses Tim Atkin MW.
Ignis Pinot Noir, from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, comes from a vineyard cluttered with round pebbles on the surface and underlying decomposed granite. It’s always the most aromatically beguiling, with tea leaf, fine red berry fruit, a hint of spice, and notes of fynbos following to an ethereal and delicate palate. ‘Incredibly long’, says Tim.
From the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, the Ridge Pinot Noir continues its staggering upward trajectory in quality. The fruit is sourced from the cool, elevated eastern slope, which has low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. Shy and darker in colour, it shows violet perfume, dark cherry and brooding structure and is sure to last decades. There’s ‘plenty of grip, backbone and intensity’, notes Tim.
Tasting Notes:
‘Now including 20% of the 777 clone, alongside its habitual 115 base, Vrede comes from red clay soils with a high iron component. Seductively perfumed, this stunning red has fine tannins, fleshy, opulent flavours of strawberry and redcurrant, finely judged 35% new wood and undertones of rose petal and forest floor. One of the greatest ever Cape Pinot Noirs.’ – Tim Atkin MW, 97/100
‘As its name suggests, Ignis uses grapes from a 2.4-hectare, north-facing site on warmer decomposed granite soils. Pale, ethereal and very delicate for a 2022 red, it combines the Burgundian 113 and 115 clones to brilliant effect. Focused, energetic and tangy, with savoury tannins, pomegranate and wild strawberry flavours, nuanced and a real sense of energy, vibrancy and purpose. Incredibly long.’ – Tim Atkin MW, 96/100
‘Ridge is often the most backward of Hannes Storm’s trio of remarkable single vineyard Pinot Noirs, sourced from an east-facing, high-density planting at 330 metres at La Vierge on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Plum, black cherry and a hint of graphite are underpinned by plenty of grip, backbone and intensity. One to tuck away for a while.’ – Tim Atkin MW, 96/100
