2019 Cap Maritime Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Pinot Noir vineyards are situated in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation and planted on distinctive soils comprising of Table Mountain sandstone and decomposed granite. The 2019 vintage yielded small compact bunches with a low juice-to-skin ratio, adding richness without overtly ripe fruit. The resultant wine displays fresh fruit flavours, concentration and energetic acidity. The Pinot Noir was picked and sorted into small lug boxes and transported in refrigerated trucks to our winery in Franschhoek. At the winery, a careful triage (selection process) took place, to ensure that only healthy whole berries were transferred into concrete fermentation tanks. Most of the grapes were destemmed, leaving a whole-cluster component of about 25% with no additions being made. After spontaneous fermentation, we transferred 60% of the juice to Stockinger 2,500L Fourdre, and 40% to new French Oak barriques for elevage of up to 15 months, including a prolonged malolactic fermentation under low temperatures.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Marc Kent is the owner, chief winemaker, and driving force behind Cap Maritime. Marc has always considered the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as one of the most exciting places to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in South Africa, and with Cap Maritime, Boekenhoutskloof has created wines that capture the essence of their origin, while at the same time representing a style of wine to which the winery aspires. A maverick spirit, he is unafraid to experiment with the unconventional, but his principal commitment is to quality on every level and in every detail. Marc is also the owner of Boekenhoutskloof, The Chocolate Block, Porcupine Ridge, The Wolftrap, and Helderberg Winery.