Pinot Noir, Ridge, Hemel en Aarde, 2021
Ridge 2023 is a wilder, blue and purple fruited Pinot, offering notes of pine and brambles, with very detailed citrus and floral accents. Each year it seems to grow in refinement, the 2023 offering the usual fresh core of acidity but this time surrounded by fleshier, more open berried fruits compared to previous years. Superb. The highest site in the range at 330m in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Ridge Pinot benefits from a cool south easterly wind. Its easterly exposition means a longer hang time and a tighter, mineral feel. Aged for a year in 25% new French oak.
critic reviews
Presenting as the darkest and firmest of the range, yet still with a pale ruby core, the 2021 Ridge Pinot Noir comes from the highest vineyards with which Storm works. Light to medium-bodied and with 12.6% alcohol, the palate has an elegant frame with tart cherry skin flavors that present a tight tannic edge; it still needs time and will be better with food. Give it another year in the bottle and enjoy it with seared duck breast and spiced salmon. Almost 2,800 bottles were filled after resting for 11 months in 16% new French oak with tight grain.
The 2021 Pinot Noir Ridge, the coolest of the three Pinot Noir sites, contains 20% whole bunches like Hannes Storm's other cuvées. It has the most floral bouquet of the three: pressed violets, pencil lead, and slightly darker fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with rather firm tannins on the entry. Fresh and saline, it delivers lovely oyster shell notes on the black plum-driven finish. It needs just a few months to cohere fully.