Shannon Vineyards Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir 2015

Pure as the driven snow.

James Downes, co-owner and viticulturist at Elgin property Shannon Vineyards, reckons that the 2015 of his Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir shows “more structure with a higher degree of dark fruit coming through” than has been in the case in recent vintages.

To this taster, the fruit profile is still more towards the red fruit end of the spectrum – strawberry, red cherry and raspberry – but what the wine does have is really good fruit concentration without being at all weighty which is a neat trick to pull off. Downes works with four different clones and vineyards are now 15 years old on average, juice fermented spontaneously and maturation lasting 12 months using barrels from three different Burgundian cooperages, 30% new. The best vintage yet and it just goes to show, you can’t hurry love… Price: R275 a bottle.

#WinemagRating: 90/100.

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