Crystallum Wines, Newton Johnson Vineyards and Storm Wines
Live Virtual Auction, 3 April 2022
Session 1
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About this Item
After working 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as winemaker at Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Hannes Storm discovered 2 tiny parcels of land with particularly exceptional terroirs and planted them with Pinot Noir in 2008. 2012 saw the maiden vintage being released and was produced from low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld (‘Buck Veld’) shale soil in the Valley ward. Hannes is now the only producer of Pinot Noir from each of the three appellations in the Hemel-en-Aarde and the Vrede is widely regarded as SA’s benchmark. Just 350 cases were produced, and it offers fine aging potential.
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.
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Critics Ratings
‘Vibrant & primary, still showing dusty vigour and upfront cool Pinot fruit. A line of acidity and chalky tannins on the palate is very promising and needs time to mellow. Super youthful. Drink 2023-2026.’ – Higgo Jacobs (Feb 2022)
‘Pronounced black and rooibos tea characteristics drive the nose of this earthy, herbal wine, with supporting tones of dried red cherry and raspberry as a fruity accompaniment. It's medium in feel, like crushed silk, with fine yet supportive tannins that lend pleasant grip to the palate and carry through to the earthy, tea-centric finish that brings you back to that first sniff. It's a lovely, complex package.’ - Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, (May 2021), 93/100
Deeply intense, brooding 2016 from Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, with a fruity-savoury density seething with pent-up energy. The most overt structure of acid and, especially, tannin of the 3 Pinots, also the most complete-seeming. Needs many years to start delivering on its potential.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2019, 4.5* (93/100)
‘Vrede tends to make the most compact of Hannes Storm’s three single vineyard Pinots, with more bass notes and concentration. Made with the 115 clone planted on clay-rich soils, it nods towards Gevrey-Chambertin, with impressive grip and darker berry fruit. 2018-26.’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 95/100