The Story
Vrede Pinot Noir hails from a steep northeast facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soils. The vines were planted in 2008 making 2012 the maiden vintage. Planting density 5000 vines/hectare.
The Dijon clone, 115, was planted throughout the vineyard. The 115 clone gives a lot of perfume & floral characters in the terroir (rose petals and violets), while the heavy clay soil contributes to texture and structure on the palate.
An exceptional vintage displaying richness and generosity with alluring, opulent, dark fruit perfume.
Not flashy or overly fruity, but with great depth, purity and structure - characteristic of the site’s low-vigour, stony, clay-rich soils.
Wine Information
After 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, focussing on producing world class Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, Hannes discovered two vineyards with particularly exceptional terroirs planted with the tiny bunched red grape variety that he loves intimately. With these two sites – one with low vigour, stony, clay-rich shale soils in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the other, a small vineyard in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley with granite soils – Storm Wines strives to steer the purest characteristics of each site towards bottle and cork.
Meticulous viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar and a constant nod to the Old World present the wines with a warm personality and character. With the maiden vintage for both vineyards in 2012, Storm Wines continues to handcraft, perfect and shepherd Pinot Noir from their unique terroirs into very distinctive site specific wines.
