Thursday, January 12, 2012

Great South African Pinot

I have always steered clear of South African wines...there have been exceptions...but most have been over-done.
As this had been recommended...and my quest for good Pinot Noir is never ending...I searched the net for a German merchant who had the 2009 vintage. I 'found' it....ordered...checked the item number...'2009'...and waited for the 3 bottles.
A few days later and I was pulling open the package to be presented with...yes...you've guessed it...the 2010 vintage!!
I contacted the merchant and was told that they only had the 2010 now...then why oh why...don't you change your website!!!
I was offered a small rebate and decided to keep the wines rather that send them back. Next step...try one...so that I would calm down. And so it was.. a few days later...that I popped the cork on this wine
Crystallum Pinot Noir
Cuvée Cinema 2010
Walker Bay, South Africa
The aroma...well...pure Pinot...and a smile from me. Bingo...there are sometimes positives in negatives. Strawberry and cherry followed...very enticing. The smell dragged me into the glass. There are tannins...but so velvety...and the fruit has a delicious acidity as partner.Juicy fruit...mouth filling...I could have emptied the bottle...but a few sprays from my gas bottle...and in the fridge...it was tasted again next evening. Still all there...even fuller maybe. The wine spends 10 months in barrel...but this is no overdone, overoaked example. It is the future for South Africa,
Points 18
PS. ..I am off to the UK in a few weeks...and checking a merchant there...found he has 5 bottles of the 2009 and a single bottle of 2008. They are ordered and
will be transported back to Germany...personally.

2 comments:

Darryl said...

You should look out for Newton Johnson Domaine Pinot Noir '09 or '10. It should be available in the UK when you are over there.

Barry said...

Thanks Darryl...will do