Pinot Noir, Ignis, Hemel en Aarde, 2021

Name: Pinot Noir, Ignis, Hemel en Aarde
Brand: Storm Wines
Price: 238.73 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2020 2021 2022 2023

justerini & brooks tasting note

The Ignis offers a little more mid-palate flesh initially, with traces of ripe strawberry, red cherry, currants, a little brioche and judicious toast. More open today with a lovely sheen of glamourous Pinot berries, Ignis benefits from constant air flow and reduced disease pressure. Where Vrede is 50% clay and 50% shale, the Ignis site is cluttered with round pebbles on the surface with primarily decomposed granite underlying. Situated at 225m elevation in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, it is (warm) north facing but more exposed to the wind. It has been farmed organically since 2015. 609 cases were produced.

critic reviews

94+/100Anthony Mueller,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2021 Ignis Pinot Noir comes from a vineyard that has granite and clay soil, offering a firmer nose and a medium ruby color that's slightly darker than the Vrede Pinot Noir. It displays elegant dark cherry notes with black raspberry and rose as notions of orange rind and potpourri sway with red tea aromas. Medium-bodied, the Pinot Noir grows on the palate and displays a firm tannic edge with balanced energetic acidity. Give it another year in the bottle, and it will have no problems aging until its 15th birthday. Just under 3,700 bottles were produced after resting 11 months in 24% new French oak.

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2036

date of review 12/2023

89/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2021 Pinot Noir Ignis contains 20% whole bunches and matured in used wood for 11 months. This has more intensity on the nose than the Vrede, greater fruit concentration and terroir expression. There's just more going on here. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced opening, fine acidity, and good grip. There’s dark berry fruit intermixed with subtle licorice notes towards the finish. It requires more clarity on the palate, but maybe give this a year in the bottle.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2035

date of review 11/2023