Saurwein new releases

Jessica Saurwein and husband Roland Peens will soon be planting vineyard to be farmed regeneratively on their recently acquired Stanford property but for now, Saurwein continues to make wine from bought-in grapes, her two examples of Pinot Noir from the 2021 vintage recently released. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Om Pinot Noir 2021
Price: R460
W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. 15% whole-bunch fermentation before being matured for 10 months in French oak, 25% new – winemaking the same for below. Alluring aromatics of red cherry and wild strawberry plus hints of fynbos, cured meat and white pepper. Good fruit expression, well integrated acidity and fine tannins – relatively low in alcohol (13.3%) but not entirely without weight or texture, the finish gently savoury. Understated and slow to reveal itself.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Nom Pinot Noir 2021
Price: R460

W.O. Elandskloof. Red and black cherry, some flinty reduction and floral perfume on the nose while the palate possesses a great core of fruit, bright acidity and pleasantly firm tannins. More concentrated and forceful than Om but perhaps more obvious, too.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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