Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir
Walker Bay , Cape South Coast, Western Cape, South Africa
A pristine Pinot Noir with great varietal character, incisive acidity, precisely defined flavors and impeccable balance.
Red cherry, red plum, red currant, black tea, violet, forest floor, dried orange peel. Low velvet tannins and a very long finish. Wonderful.
A pristine Pinot Noir with great varietal character, incisive acidity, precisely defined flavors and impeccable balance.
Red cherry, red plum, red currant, black tea, violet, forest floor, dried orange peel. Low velvet tannins and a very long finish. Wonderful.
After majority of estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes were rejected in 2019 due to wildfires, the 2020 PN marks the return of Hemel-En-Aarde Valley bottling. Ruby with aromas of red fruits, berries and earthy herb spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry, notes of tea, good balance with lively acidity. Soft firm tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit and earthy herb character. Nice!
After majority of estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes were rejected in 2019 due to wildfires, the 2020 PN marks the return of Hemel-En-Aarde Valley bottling. Ruby with aromas of red fruits, berries and earthy herb spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry, notes of tea, good balance with lively acidity. Soft firm tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit and earthy herb character. Nice!
Oct 31st, 2022
14’Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir. It's a silky, seductive wine, aromatic & balanced. Pronounced cherry & raspberry fruits, backed by barrel spices. Streaks of cola & fruit cake ride out the back of the palate as well. Solid tanning. It certainly lingers around for a minute. Drinking over the next 4/5 years. Want to thank @Greg Ballington for this delicious gift!
14’Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir. It's a silky, seductive wine, aromatic & balanced. Pronounced cherry & raspberry fruits, backed by barrel spices. Streaks of cola & fruit cake ride out the back of the palate as well. Solid tanning. It certainly lingers around for a minute. Drinking over the next 4/5 years. Want to thank @Greg Ballington for this delicious gift!
Apr 28th, 2020
Oakey and a touch hot. Ripe cherries, blackberries, plum, cocoa, earth, and spice. Quite opulent, but still unmistakably Pinot Noir. Clean and polished, as such called it a new world wine. However, GL, who brought the wine, decided SA wasn't new world and led us down an entirely different path 😅
NB: Second encounter with this highly acclaimed producer and am still not quite convinced yet. Didn't really enjoy this but apparently the 13's are a little atypical for them, according to GL. Hope to taste a better example next time.
Oakey and a touch hot. Ripe cherries, blackberries, plum, cocoa, earth, and spice. Quite opulent, but still unmistakably Pinot Noir. Clean and polished, as such called it a new world wine. However, GL, who brought the wine, decided SA wasn't new world and led us down an entirely different path 😅
NB: Second encounter with this highly acclaimed producer and am still not quite convinced yet. Didn't really enjoy this but apparently the 13's are a little atypical for them, according to GL. Hope to taste a better example next time.
Anthony took us to the tasting room in their Cellar to taste the Hamilton Russell line of wines.
This is why you come down to this region, the Pinot Noirs. They are Burgundian in style. Nice red and blue fruits with very gentle wood use and about 13% ABV. Quite enjoyable.
This completed a vertical tasting of; 2017, 2016 & 2015.
Photos of; the Hamilton Russell Vineyard, Anthony’s pouring our tasting, barrels around our tasting, and a long view of their property and house on the hilltop.
Anthony took us to the tasting room in their Cellar to taste the Hamilton Russell line of wines.
This is why you come down to this region, the Pinot Noirs. They are Burgundian in style. Nice red and blue fruits with very gentle wood use and about 13% ABV. Quite enjoyable.
This completed a vertical tasting of; 2017, 2016 & 2015.
Photos of; the Hamilton Russell Vineyard, Anthony’s pouring our tasting, barrels around our tasting, and a long view of their property and house on the hilltop.
Anthony took us to the tasting room in their Cellar to taste the Hamilton Russell line of wines.
This is why you come down to this region, the Pinot Noirs. They are Burgundian in style. Nice red and blue fruits with very gentle wood use and about 13% ABV. Quite enjoyable.
Photos of; the Hamilton Russell Vineyard, a bronze statue of Anthony’s father wearing Anthony’s hat. It was his father who founded Russell Hamilton back in 1975. He was also CEO of one of the largest US advertising agencies, JWT or J. Walter Thompson. Our tasting setup in the cellar and a long view of their property and house on the hilltop.
Anthony took us to the tasting room in their Cellar to taste the Hamilton Russell line of wines.
This is why you come down to this region, the Pinot Noirs. They are Burgundian in style. Nice red and blue fruits with very gentle wood use and about 13% ABV. Quite enjoyable.
Photos of; the Hamilton Russell Vineyard, a bronze statue of Anthony’s father wearing Anthony’s hat. It was his father who founded Russell Hamilton back in 1975. He was also CEO of one of the largest US advertising agencies, JWT or J. Walter Thompson. Our tasting setup in the cellar and a long view of their property and house on the hilltop.
Smoke, camp fire, leather, and then some fruit flavors. Distinctly South African. Distinctly delicious. Note to self: Hamilton Russell becoming favorite S. African producer.
Smoke, camp fire, leather, and then some fruit flavors. Distinctly South African. Distinctly delicious. Note to self: Hamilton Russell becoming favorite S. African producer.
Aug 1st, 2018
First of the reds in our South African blind tasting. This is the benchmark Pinot Noir for South Africa made by Emul Ross. Light to medium garnet red with light bricking on the edges. A touch earthy and smokey on the nose with some cherries. Medium plus acidity (6.5/10) and light tannins (4.5/10). Light plus to medium bodied with some cherries, a little petrol and floral with raspberries and some meaty notes. Medium plus to long finish. Needed a solid decant to open up and was better when I sneaked a peek on day two. Drink from 2018 till 2025.
First of the reds in our South African blind tasting. This is the benchmark Pinot Noir for South Africa made by Emul Ross. Light to medium garnet red with light bricking on the edges. A touch earthy and smokey on the nose with some cherries. Medium plus acidity (6.5/10) and light tannins (4.5/10). Light plus to medium bodied with some cherries, a little petrol and floral with raspberries and some meaty notes. Medium plus to long finish. Needed a solid decant to open up and was better when I sneaked a peek on day two. Drink from 2018 till 2025.
Dec 2nd, 2017
Serious Wine, the silkyness of Cali on the front with the terroir of Oregon on the back. a polished bing cherry, with lovely forest floor notes, well balanced truly a beauty
Serious Wine, the silkyness of Cali on the front with the terroir of Oregon on the back. a polished bing cherry, with lovely forest floor notes, well balanced truly a beauty
3 people found it helpfulJul 6th, 2014