Peter Finlayson, who is known as South Africa’s ‘Pinot Pioneer’, was the first modern-day winemaker in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and was instrumental in putting the Walker Bay wine region on the map. The vineyard's terroir provides ideal conditions, allowing Finlayson to produce wines of top quality, especially Pinot noir and Chardonnay, as well as Sauvignon Blanc.
With the introduction of the Collector’s Corner, Finlayson stresses the importance of ‘Wine Time’, which he says is ‘the need to project one’s promised pleasure to its trusted supreme maturation point. Icon wines of today are mostly made to be laid down and be given the opportunity to mature and blossom.’
One of Finlayson’s so-called ‘Cinderella’ wines is Bouchard Finlayson’s Missionvale Chardonnay, of which the 2009 vintage forms part of Peter’s Picks: ‘I have always enjoyed older red wines, but have also developed a taste for matured whites. It has become a focal concern of mine to ensure that we increase our stock of Cinderella wines. The current release of Missionvale Chardonnay (2011) is most certainly a beauty in a youthful time warp. Another four years and ‘Wine Time’ will have done its magic!’
Collector’s Corner Peter’s Picks wines feature the following
Peter’s Picks - Reds
Téte De Cuvée Pinot Noir 2000 (R1 000)
Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 1995 (R400)
Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2002 (R400)
Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2005 (R400)
Hannibal 2004 (R300)
Peter’s Picks - Whites
Sans Barrique Chardonnay 2008 (R200)
Missionvale Chardonnay 2009 (R300)
Kaaimansgat Limited Edition Chardonnay 2009 (R300)
Situated on the R320 near Hermanus, Bouchard Finlayson vineyard and winery is open for tastings and sales Monday to Friday from 09h30 to 17h00 and on Saturdays from 10h00 to 13h00.