Creation Estate Pinot Noir 2022 from South Africa

Pinot Noir from South Africa still sounds unnatural to most drinkers. The Creation Estate Pinot Noir 2022 clears that up in one glass. It comes from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge in Walker Bay, nine kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean.

That’s one of the three Hemel-en-Aarde wards, alongside Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Cool climate and slow ripening: for Pinot Noir, that’s the difference between elegant Burgundian style and the heavy, jammy New World version.

The estate

Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin founded Creation in 2002, on land that had never carried a vine. The estate sits at around 300 metres, on clay shale of the Bokkeveld formation. They focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the grapes that perform best in this cool climate.

From the start they planted only virus-free vines. Creation has one of South Africa’s first virus-free mother blocks, and supplies cuttings from it to the rest of the industry.

In the cellar

The wine spends ten to twelve months in French oak, 25% of it new. Enough for a soft wood touch, not enough to drown the fruit.

Tasting Note

Appearance

Light ruby, classic Pinot.

Nose

Ripe red fruit, raspberry and cherry, with dried green herbs, leather, tobacco and a soft wood touch.

Palate

Fruity and refined: raspberry, chocolate, dry herbs, and an earthy under-layer where the clay shows through. Medium tannins, medium-plus acidity.

Quality

A Pinot Noir that holds its own next to good entry-level Burgundy. In summer it also works chilled, at 14°C.

What I watch for

One: this is the house’s entry-level Pinot. Creation also makes pricier Pinots, such as the Art of Pinot Noir. Don’t expect a top cuvée from the Estate.

Two: young vines and a young house. The first vines went in in 2002, so in 2022 they were twenty years old at most. Little is known yet about how these wines age.

Who it’s for

If you still know South Africa only through Stellenbosch Cabernets, this is a direct entry to the cool side of the country.

Producer: Creation Wines
Wine: Pinot Noir Estate
Vintage: 2022
Region: Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, South Africa
Grape: Pinot Noir (100%)
Ageing: 10 to 12 months French oak, 25% new
Importer (NL): Vinites

Thanks to Vinites for the bottle.

Sources

My own tasting note
Creation Wines (official): creationwines.com
The Drinks Business, on virus-free vineyards: thedrinksbusiness.com
Vinites, product information: vinites.com