Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Hamilton Russell Pinot noir is not overtly fruity, soft and "sweet" and it generally shows hints of that alluring savory "primal" character along with a dark, spicy, complex primary fruit perfume.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
After the majority of the estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes were rejected in 2019 due to wildfires, the 2020 Pinot Noir marks the return of the Hemel-En-Aarde Valley bottling. Initially opening to aromas similar to that of somewhere between the Willamette Valley and Burgundy, the nose is earthy with a slightly rustic appeal and fresh, red-fruited essence. Medium-bodied and beautifully layered, the mouthfeel is bright and food-friendly with succulent acidity and youthful tannins. The wine concludes with elements of raspberry skin, Bing cherry and red spiced tea. Rating:92+
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Wine Spectator
A graceful Pinot framed by light, crisp tannins, and a delicate, herbal overtone accenting flavors of ripe red currant and raspberry fruit, Mandarin orange peel and anise. Bright and lingering on the minerally finish.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A relatively cool, maritime climate area, Walker Bay includes three important wards: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. These sites benefit from the cooling ocean winds and are reputed for the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinotage.