Reviews & Ratings

2008 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir "Hemel en Aarde"

Winery: Hamilton Russell

Vintage: 2008

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Hemel en Aarde"

Wine Category: Pinot Noir

Grape blend: 100% Pinot Noir

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Hemel en Aarde

State or country: South Africa

Price: $44

Cases produced: 4,237

KWG Score: 89.5 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: June 5, 2011

Wine Review: Readers who like European styled Pinot Noir will enjoy this Pinot from Hamilton Russell. It is slightly opaque and brick red colored. It opens with a fragrant old oak bouquet with a hint of leather and raspberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and rather smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty black raspberry with very nicely integrated smoky oak. The finish is dry and its fine tannins are elegant. This wine would pair perfectly with grill pork tenderloin with thyme. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Our low-vigour, stony, clay-rich soil, cool maritime mesoclimate, naturally tiny yields of under 30 hl/ha and our philosophy of expressing our terroir in our wines – give rise to a certain tightness, tannin line and elevated length to balance the richness and generosity of our Pinot Noir. Our Pinot Noir is not overtly fruity, soft and "sweet" and it generally shows hints of that alluring "primal" character along with a dark, spicy, complex primary fruit perfume.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Hamilton Russell 2008 Hemel en Aarde Pinot Noir.