Bursting from the glass with elegantly perfumed yet savory aromas, this Pinot Noir displays sophisticated black cherry on the palate. A hint of lightly toasted oak gives way to scents of brambly berries, raspberry sauce, and cherry pie on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and satiny in feel, with more ripe red fruit tones framed by plush but structured tannins and ample acidity that keeps the finish bright. Baking spice and forest floor tones grace the enduring finish, along with a touch of sweet orange oil.
Vrede Pinot Noir hails from a steep, northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. 2012 was the maiden vintage from this vineyard planted in 2008. 25% New wood and balance 2nd-5th fill tight grain French oak for 11 months.
Winemaker: Hannes Storm
Winemaker: Hannes Storm
After 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley – ‘Heaven-and-Earth’ in Afrikaans – working intimately with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Hannes Storm discovered two tiny parcels of land with particularly exceptional terroirs. The two vineyards, one in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the other in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, were planted in 2008 to Pinot Noir. Storm’s maiden vintage saw the light in 2012 and, after spending 18 months in bottle, the wines were released in August 2014.
Today Hannes and Nathalia Storm are a husband and wife team that handcrafts their Vrede Pinot Noir and Vrede Chardonnay from low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld (‘Buck Veld’) shale soil in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, their Ignis Pinot Noir from decomposed granite soil in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and their Ridge Pinot Noir, and Ridge Chardonnay also from low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Storm Wines is the only producer with Pinot Noirs from each of the three appellations in the Hemel-en-Aarde.
Storm Wines strives to steer the purest characteristics of each vineyard site towards bottle and cork. Small production, careful viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar and a constant nod to the Old World present the wines with distinctive personality and character.
Today Hannes and Nathalia Storm are a husband and wife team that handcrafts their Vrede Pinot Noir and Vrede Chardonnay from low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld (‘Buck Veld’) shale soil in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, their Ignis Pinot Noir from decomposed granite soil in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and their Ridge Pinot Noir, and Ridge Chardonnay also from low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Storm Wines is the only producer with Pinot Noirs from each of the three appellations in the Hemel-en-Aarde.
Storm Wines strives to steer the purest characteristics of each vineyard site towards bottle and cork. Small production, careful viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar and a constant nod to the Old World present the wines with distinctive personality and character.
