A consistent winner of both national and international wine awards, our Pinot Noir is nourished by the unique ‘terroir’ of the Graaff family farm in the Witzenberg Mountain range in Ceres. A fabulous vintage!
Tasting Notes
Clear, bright garnet in colour with a plush array of fresh strawberries, ripe cherries, and a hint of forest mushrooms. A complex wine delivering excellent balance between fruit and oak flavours.
Vintage
High on the Witzenberg Mountain range in Ceres, at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, this unique ‘appellation’ exhibits South Africa’s only truly continental climate with winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. The later-than-usual and slow harvest of 2021 was definitely worth the wait.
Wine lovers can really look forward to remarkable wines from the 2021 crop. The cooler weather enabled producers to harvest their grapes at exactly the right time, and we are especially excited about good colour extraction, low pH levels and high natural acidity, which all point to exceptional quality wines. These growing conditions ensure that the new 2021 Op Die Berg Pinot Noir will age remarkably well over the next few years.
Vinification
30% of the hand-picked harvested batch was destalked while the remaining 70% was whole-bunch fermented. Before fermentation, cold maceration was allowed for 4 days. The juice was inoculated with yeast and the fermenting must gently, and only partially, punched down twice a day using the aerated pumpover method. The partial punch-down ensures a longer fermentation period resulting in more colour and flavour development. Following a gentle basket pressing, the wine was transferred to new French Oak barrels for malolactic fermentation before being transferred to a combination of older barrels to mature for 13 months.
Accolades
2021 Vintage
- Veritas Awards 2022 Double Gold
2020 Vintage
- IWSC 2022 Silver (90 Points)
- Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards 2022 Gold
- SA Terroir Wine Awards 2022 National Winner
- Tim Atkin Report 2022 90 Points
2019 Vintage
- Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2021 Gold
- Platter's Guide 2022 4 ½ Stars (94 Points)
- Veritas Awards 2021 Gold
- Winemag Pinot Noir Report 2021 Top 10 (93 Points)
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Mushroom risotto will complement the earthy notes of the wine beautifully. Pinot Noir is light and elegant enough to be enjoyed with poached salmon or even a leek and pecorino tart. Also try it with chicken liver fettuccine, cripsy duck, and trout. |
| Origin | Ceres |
| Appellation | WO Western Cape |
