Dear *|FNAME|*,

Storm Wines celebrated their 10th anniversary last week with a tasting of Pinot Noirs from across 10 vintages. These world-class wines were in great shape, proving that decades of maturation lie ahead. It was wonderful to experience their honest expression of terroir and Hannes’ subtle skill. The 2021 Pinots and 2022 Chardonnays are simply exceptional. Always in high demand, Storm sets the tone for SA Pinot.

Vrede Pinot Noir is from a northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, planted on low-vigour, Bokkeveld shale soil. This stunning wine is structured and powerful, and the vintage tasting showed that it will easily last a decade and more. Though fine-boned, it’s supported by serious tannins.

Ignis Pinot Noir is produced from a vineyard in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley that's cluttered with round pebbles over decomposed granite Aromatically it’s the most beguiling, boasting tea leaf, wild strawberry and a hint of fynbos following to an ethereal and delicate palate. ‘The kind of thing that would cost three times the price in Burgundy,’ notes Tim Atkin MW.

From the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, the Ridge Pinot Noir is from a cooler, more elevated eastern slope with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. This is a much darker-fruited wine, with attractive earthy notes, some iron, and a touch of bay leaf complexity. The palate is deeper and more opulent with incredibly fine tannins – just delicious. This continues to be the most complete of the trio.

Vrede Chardonnay has an open nose of florals, stone fruit, and confident South African sunshine. With its reigned in palate and cleansing acidity, it’s probably their most accomplished vintage yet. It hails from a northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, grown on low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil.

The Ridge Chardonnay is a wine of incredible quality. From a cool eastern slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, its attractive flinty, reductive notes offer a Puligny-like nose of focused fruit, leading to a firm, pithy palate.

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Vinous regards,

Tasting notes

Storm Vrede Pinot Noir 2021

‘Vrede comes from clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soils in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and is made with clones 113 and 115. Dense and grippy, this comes from a warmer, north-facing site, but is often a more backward Pinot Noir. Spicy and savoury, with good underlying backbone, plum and wild strawberry fruit and the structure to age. 2023-30.’ – Tim Atkin MW, 96/100

Storm Ignis Pinot Noir 2021

‘Ignis hails from granite soils in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and is the most approachable of Hannes Storm's Pinot Noirs in its youth. Delicate, floral and ethereal, it’s the kind of thing that would cost three times the price in Burgundy. Detailed and sweet, with filigree tannins and flavours of redcurrant and raspberry. 2022-28.’ – Tim Atkin MW, 95/100

Storm Ridge Pinot Noir 2021

‘Ridge comes from a markedly cooler site than its stablemates Ignis and Vrede and it shows in the structure and focus of the wine. Chiselled and pithy, with notes of ginger spice, blackcurrant leaf and red cherry and a twist of clove and tobacco leaf from 15% whole clusters. Delicious. 2023-30.’ – Tim Atkin MW, 96/100

Storm Vrede Chardonnay 2022

‘W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Matured for eight months in French oak, 30% new. Pear, citrus and oatmeal on the nose while the palate shows great composure with lovely presence and texture – dense fruit, crisp acidity and a pithy finish. Alc: 13.17%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100

Storm Ridge Chardonnay 2022

‘W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Matured for 11 months, 90% in French oak (of which 32% was new) and 10% in clay amphorae. Still very primary on the nose with a note of struck-match reduction to go with citrus. The palate, meanwhile, is powerful and yet focused and precise – concentrated fruit and driving acidity, the finish exceptionally long and savoury. Alc: 13.22%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100

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