Storm, Vrede Pinot Noir South Africa 2016

93 points Wine Enthusiast
"Pronounced black and rooibos tea characteristics drive the nose of this earthy, herbal wine, with supporting tones of dried red cherry and raspberry as a fruity accompaniment. It’s medium in feel, like crushed silk, with fine yet supportive tannins that lend pleasant grip to the palate and carry through to the earthy, tea-centric finish that brings you back to that first sniff. It’s a lovely, complex package."

Jancis Robinson
"Hannes Storm’s winemaking style involves minimal intervention and a constant nod to the Old World. All three Pinot Noirs are vinified identically: burgundy clones, basket-pressed and native-yeast fermented. The 2016 harvest was early and condensed – Storm Vrede Pinot Noir was picked on 20 January.
Really rather burgundian nose. Proper, well-constructed wine with a dry finish and reasonably accessible opening impressions. Really very exciting and palate-gripping with quite enough ripe fruit. Long. Bravo! Bitter cherries. 17/20 points."

Vinous Reverie Notes
After working intimately with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (“Heaven-and-Earth” in Afrikaans), Hannes Storm discovered two tiny parcels of land with particularly exceptional terroirs. The two vineyards were planted in 2008. Storm’s maiden vintage saw the light in 2012 and, after spending 18 months in bottle, the wines were released in 2014. In 2009, the Hemel-en-Aarde was divided into three separate wards—the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Storm Vrede Pinot Noir and Vrede Chardonnay are from vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Hemel-en-Aarde has a maritime climate. Influenced by the cool Atlantic Ocean, it is considered an exceptional cool-climate winegrowing region. The prevailing summer wind (the Southeaster) is a moderating influence, as is the Benguela Current, which flows up from Antarctica. A higher rainfall average than the rest of the Cape’s wine regions makes a significant difference in drought years. Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge appellations are established on clay-rich, Bokkeveld shale-derived soils. The vineyards of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge are higher in elevation and more varied in aspect. The Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley’s vineyards have significant clay content in the subsoil but are mostly located in lighter-structured decomposed granite soil. With meticulous viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar and a constant nod to the Old World, Hannes Storm creates wines with a warm personality and character.