95-100 points, Restaurant Wine
|
93 points, Tim Atkin MW
|
90+ points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
|
90 points, Wine Spectator
|
About the Wine
Critic Reviews
95-100 points, Restaurant Wine
93 points, Tim Atkin MW
93 points, Tim Atkin MW
90+ points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
90 points, Wine Spectator
“An exceptional Pinot Noir in a ripe, full style. It is round, fairly rich, and well balanced, with a long, persistent finish. In aroma/ flavor, it tastes of blueberry, red currant, cherry, black tea, kola nut, and toasty oak. Can be aged. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 35% new.”
93 points, Tim Atkin MW
“This was showing quite a bit of oak and tannin when I tasted it, but Hamilton Russell Pinots are rarely showy in their youth, taking a while to develop complexity in bottle. Savoury, earthy and toasty, with plenty of backbone, grip and acidity and a core of sweet red beery fruit. 2021-28”
93 points, Tim Atkin MW
“This was showing quite a bit of oak and tannin when I tasted it, but Hamilton Russell Pinots are rarely showy in their youth, taking a while to develop complexity in bottle. Savoury, earthy and toasty, with plenty of backbone, grip and acidity and a core of sweet red beery fruit. 2021-28”
90+ points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
“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.”
90 points, Wine Spectator
“A modern, well-crafted version, showing good harmony overall and a seductive palate, exhibiting dark cherry flavors and hints of clove and vanilla, while mineral and floral accents take the back seat. Solid finish. Best from 2021 through 2027.”
About The Winery
Hamilton Russell Vineyards – one of the most southerly wine Estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea – pioneered viticulture and winemaking in the beautiful, cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. Tim Hamilton Russell purchased the undeveloped 425-acre property in 1975, after an exhaustive search for the most southerly site on which to make South Africa’s top cool climate wines from a selection of noble varieties. His son, Anthony Hamilton Russell, who took over in 1991 (finally buying the property in 1994), narrowed the range to only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an Estate, committing to work only with grapes from their terroir. Today, Anthony and his wife Olive, winemaker Emul Ross, and viticulturist Johan Montgomery are completely dedicated to expressing the personality of the Hamilton Russell Vineyards terroir in their wines. Tiny yields and intense worldwide demand keep the elegant, highly individual, estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in very short supply.
