New Release: Storm Wines 2023 Pinots and 2024 Chardonnays

Hannes and Nathalia Storm are on a roll. 2022 was for us the peak of their young estate to date – a vintage that delivered beautifully fruit-forward yet complex wines, with clear ageing potential. However, 2023 may come to surpass it for the balance of succulence and precision; a set of new releases that cements Storm’s place as arguably the best in the country. Thanks to their resolutely cool-climate, aromatic profile (temperatures in the Hemel-en-Aarde were cooler on average than Burgundy in 2023), and an earlier pick to avoid harvest rains, these new releases are as delicious, juicy and vibrant as ever. They continue to represent some of the best value wines on the J&B list, at just £185 per case.

Hannes explained that having two great vintages back-to-back in 2022 and 2023 is the result of “happier, more relaxed vines after five or six years of drought. The amazing thing is that the plants are more productive and yet the wines are deeper and better balanced too.” This is a mightily accomplished range, as ever, the wines representing different expressions of Pinot and Chardonnay (according to soil and exposition) at a uniformly high standard. On the Pinot-front, Vrede is typically supple, red fruited and sweetly accented – the charmer, Ignis the most expressive, spicy and aromatic, and Ridge the most intense, blue-fruited, fresh and fine. The Chardonnays from 2024 represent a small, concentrated crop, picked early to retain freshness and pressed hard to ensure there is structure to support all that lovely white citrus and stone fruit. The alcohol level on both Chardonnays comes in under 13%. Ageing for all the wines is carried out over a year in Burgundian barrique with 25-30% new oak.

Storm Wines Vrede Pinot Noir 2023 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Picking before the rain was very important in 2023 and Hannes Storm did just that. Vrede comes from a 3.6-hectare block planted with the 113, 115 and 777 clones on Bokkeveld shale and is generally the most opulent of his three single-site Pinots. Savoury fleshy and slightly ferrous, it has layers of rose petal, wild strawberry and orange zest and refined, detailed tannins. 2024-31 – 96pts, Tim Atkin MW.

Storm Wines Ignis Pinot Noir 2023 Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Ignis hails from a warmer, comparatively free draining 2.4-hectare block on decomposed granite that’s planted with four different Burgundian clones (113, 115, 667 and 777). Floral, ethereal and layered, it has some spice and texture from 15% whole clusters, subtle 28% new oak, a slightly salty top note, caressing wild strawberry, pomegranate and goji berry flavours, savoury tannins and mouth-watering acidity.** 2025-32 – 96pts, Tim Atkin MW.**

Storm Wines Ridge Pinot Noir 2023 Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

Hannes Storm’s Ridge Pinot Noir uses grapes from a dry-farmed, 1.1-hectare parcel at La Vierge that’s planted with 7,500 vines per hectare. Firmer and more backward than his other two Pinots, it has flavours of plum and orange zest, a hint of clove spice and the concentration and intensity to age beautifully in bottle. The finish goes on for a minute. 2025-32 – 96pts, Tim Atkin MW.