2018 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Pinot Noir has a lovely bouquet with pure red cherry and crushed strawberry scents, rose petal and light bergamot scents. The oak here is very nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied, with sappy red fruit, quite saline, lightly spiced and fairly linear with a touch more definition on the finish compared to when I last tasted it. Drink now and over the next decade.
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Neal Martin
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Pinot Noir spent 10 months in barrel with 35% new oak. It has a perfumed, quite floral nose of brambly red fruit infused with pressed rose petals, although it is not quite as delineated as other recent vintages that I have encountered. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that frame the mulberry and crushed strawberry fruit, and tertiary notes plus a touch of white pepper toward the gentle finish. It should drink well with just a year in bottle and then continue on to give a decade of pleasure.
The 2018 Pinot Noir is still a touch tight and shows a mineral tension with bright, tart red fruit. Slightly underripe strawberry and cherries mingle with cranberry and soft earth tones. The palate is bright and still tight with the tart red fruit expression driving through to the finish showing bright acidity. The finish lingers with hints of dusty minerality and soft rose petal on the medium to long finish. This wine is still young and will age well; just be patient and give it some time in your cellar. 29,256 bottles made.