Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2025
Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2025
Manufacturer: Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Sophisticated and structured estate wine that represents one of the finest vintages in the winery's 45-year history. Grown in stony, iron-rich shale soils, this wine balances richness and generosity with a characteristic tightness and elevated length. The aromatic profile is defined by a dark, spicy, and complex primary fruit perfume, accented by an alluring, savory "primal" character rather than overt sweetness. Matured for 10 months in 228-litre French oak barrels, the wine showcases remarkable purity of fruit and depth. With its vibrant acidity and firm tannin line, this Pinot Noir offers exceptional aging potential, continuing to evolve and reveal its unique cool-climate terroir for years to come.
2025 / 0.75l / 13,20% / Hemmel en Aarde - South Africa
About the winery
Hamilton Russell Vineyards is one of the southernmost wineries in Africa. The winery is also a pioneer of viticulture and winemaking in the beautiful, cool, coastal Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, just outside the old fishing village of Hermanus, and specialises in producing highly individual, terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varieties that are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the best in the New World. Their Southern Right brand, for which vineyards south over the hill are set aside, then concentrates on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, paying homage to the southern right whales that come to Walker Bay each year.
Founder Tim Hamilton Russell purchased the undeveloped 170-hectare site in 1975 after an exhaustive search for the most southerly location to produce premium, cool-climate South African wines from select noble varieties. His son, Anthony Hamilton Russell, who took over the business in 199, narrowed the range to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and committed himself to working only with grapes from his terroir. Extensive soil research begun in 1994 identified 52 hectares of stony, clay-rich, shaley soil as optimal for Burgundian varieties, with the remaining vineyards earmarked for the Southern Right project.
Terroir
Hemel-en-Aarde is located outside the picturesque fishing village and popular holiday town of Hermanus, 120 km from Cape Town. Southern right whales breed in Walker's Bay from July to November each year. In addition to the whales and as a holiday destination, the picturesque town is also home to the renowned Hemel-en-Aarde wine region, which was divided into three separate sub-appellations in 2009.
Due to the cold Atlantic Ocean, it is considered an exceptional wine region with a cool climate. The prevailing summer wind, the south-easterly wind, has a milder influence, as does the Benguela Current, which flows in from Antarctica. The higher average rainfall than in other Cape winegrowing areas has a significant impact in dry years. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge wine regions are based on clay-rich soils that originate from the Bokkeveld, while the vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge area are at a higher altitude and have a more diverse character. The vineyards in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley have a significant clay content in the subsoil, but are generally on lighter textured decomposed granite soils.
Recommended wine pairings
Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2025