The Winters Drift Pinot Noir from the cool-climate Elgin valley is
showing itself to be a ‘wine of note’, being the recipient of several recent
prestigious accolades.
The Winters Drift Pinot Noir 2013, the second vintage but the first
commercially available vintage from this up and coming Elgin producer, was
awarded a Double Gold at the 2014 Michelangelo International Wine& Spirits
Awards. This accolade followed hot on the heels
of the Winters Drift Pinot
Noir 2013’s recent Top Six award from Classic
Wine in their Niche Reds Tasting published in the July issue.
2014 Michelangelo
International Wine & Spirits Awards:
Now in its 18th year, the
Michelangelo is the only wine competition in South Africa with an exclusive
international panel of accredited wine judges, international wine makers, wine
masters and international sommeliers. This year 18 wine and spirits specialists
from 15 countries judged the all-time record number of 1730 entries from 322
producers.
Classic Wine
Niche Reds Tasting:
At the Classic Wine Niche Reds Tasting, 100 wines of varying age
and cultivar, including Pinot Noirs, were assessed by the tasting panel. The
Pinot Noirs showed very well with three Pinots featuring in the Top Six,
interestingly all from Elgin “which seems to be proving an excellent location
for this variety”, commented panel chair, Carrie Adams.
The panel’s comments on the Winters Drift Pinot Noir 2013 were as
follows: “Wow! Generous cherry fruit fringed by subtle oak – very different to
the other two Elgin Pinot Noirs in the Top Six. It is younger with more of a
devil-may-care attitude; slightly funky but fun and delicious. The best part
was the hugely refined, ripe tannin which makes for a wine that sticks its head
out above the crowd. R120 for a bottle of incredibly well made, new age Pinot
Noir from South Africa – you can’t go wrong.”
Winters Drift Pinot Noir 2013
Tasting notes: This wine delivers everything you expect from a
young Pinot Noir, including an abundance of red cherries, varietal spice,
truffles, forest floor notes and subtle oaking from 11 months in first
and second-fill French oak. The palate is complex and satisfying with a softness that is unique to
Pinot Noir. It will age well over the next three to five years.
Food pairing suggestions: Ostrich
fillet with wild rice and a creamy porcini mushroom sauce, or Aubergine
Parmigiana.
Retail
price: The Winters Drift 2013 Pinot Noir is available nationally
and retails at ±R120.
About the vineyards and Cellar:
The Winters Drift wines are grown on the historic Glen Elgin farm which was bequeathed to the Molteno Brothers Trust, with
profits to be used for the furtherance of ‘educational, cultural and charitable
interests’. The vineyards are meticulously cared for by viticulturist
Christiaan Cloete and the wines are made by the inimitable Koen Roose at Spioenkop Wines in Elgin.
At his boutique Spioenkop cellar, everything is kept very simple and natural and human involvement is paramount. Koen’s vision is to produce elegant wines that are sexy and pure but at the same time unique, a little wild even. Personality is vital. “Who wants to drink monotonous wines without soul or character? Great wine isn’t perfect. It shouldn’t be! … At the end of the day it’s about what you feel and taste in your mouth. Taste intensity is crucial”, stresses Koen.