JH Meyer Cradock Peak Pinot Noir 2014
By Christian Eedes, 14 March 2016
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Johan “Stompie” Meyer has come up with three versions of Pinot Noir, and by presenting them for sale side by side, will no doubt have fans of the variety in a giddy state of excitement. Same clone, same level of ripeness, same vinification, three different sites: the wine called Palmiet from Elgin, Elands Rivier from Elandskloof and Cradock Peak from Outenquia. Pinot geeks tend to be the biggest wine geeks of all and this is the sort of stuff to really dork out on. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:
JH Meyer Palmiet Pinot Noir 2014
Wine Cellar price: R180
Hedgegrow fruit and some floral perfume but also some stalkiness. Light bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins – appealing enough but feels a bit brittle.
#WinemagRating: 87/100.
JH Meyer Elands Rivier Pinot Noir 2014
Wine Cellar price: R265
A pretty nose of red cherry and musk. The palate possesses denser fruit than the previous wine with lemon-like acidity and a savoury, almost salty finish – well balanced.
#WinemagRating: 89/100.
Geek bait.
JH Meyer Cradock Peak Pinot Noir 2014
Wine Cellar price: R265
Black cherry, black olive and a touch of earth. This wine spent the longest on the vine (picked first week of April compared to second week of February in the case of the first wine and the first week of March in the case of the second) and it appears that much fuller and broader – the most convincing and satisfying of the three.
#WinemagRating: 90/100.
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David Clarke | 15 March 2016
Perhaps:
J H Meyer Signature Wines ‘Cradock Peak’ 2014 (Pinot Noir), WO Outeniqua
???
Tim James | 14 March 2016
I don’t know what SEO stands for (Google suggests “search engine optimization” – huh?), but the producer thought of his purposes all by himself and made his decision. I think if producers choose to downplay varieties that choice should be respected. If it was a foolish choice, they’ll come to realise it, one imagines. Nothing to stop you elucidating in the comment, but you shouldn’t really alter the name – as you don’t, eg, with Intellego Kedungu.
Christian | 14 March 2016
Hi Tim, I’ve included the variety for SEO reasons, which hopefully serves the producer’s purposes as well as ours…
Tim James | 14 March 2016
I see you include the words “Pinot Noir” in the names you ascribe to these wines, Christian – which the producer doesn’t appear to. Incidentally, when I tasted them for Platter some six months ago (which also credited them with the variety name – but they were unlabelled at that stage) , I also most enjoyed the Cradock Peak, though I preferred Palmiet to Elands River.