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 reined 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.