Pinot Noir, Ignis, Hemel en Aarde, 2021
A single vineyard located at 225m altitude in the upper Hemel en Aarde, picked 10 days later than Vrede. Close to the river, north facing on river stones and shale with underlying granite. Marginal soils and poor water retention means low yields, around 18 hl/ha for the 2017 and yet Ignis is always the most feminine of the wines. Bright ravishing raspberries, beautiful succulence and crispness of tannins with a cool strawberry and stony persistence. Focused and long.
critic reviews
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.
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.