Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée 2023 is a Walker Bay Pinot Noir reserved for vintages that deliver the kind of ripening conditions this variety demands. As the cellar’s top Pinot Noir selection, it is built from a small set of carefully chosen barrels, drawing largely on the estate’s oldest vines. The result is a wine with greater concentration and structure than a more open, early-drinking style, while still holding onto the fragrance and finesse that define fine Pinot Noir from Hemel-en-Aarde.

The nose opens with black cherry, rose, and strawberry, followed by more delicate notes of cinnamon and essential oil that bring added lift and nuance. On the palate, the texture is savory and classically dense, with beautifully integrated oak spice underscoring the fruit rather than overtaking it. There is real weight here, but it remains regal and composed, building steadily toward a long, complex finish. It would pair especially well with duck, roast quail, mushroom dishes, or herb-roasted chicken, where its red fruit, spice, and savory depth can settle naturally into the food.

This is a Pinot Noir made with cellaring in mind. While already impressive, it should continue to gain further detail and harmony over the next decade.

Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée 2023 is a Walker Bay Pinot Noir reserved for vintages that deliver the kind of ripening conditions this variety demands. As the cellar’s top Pinot Noir selection, it is built from a small set of carefully chosen barrels, drawing largely on the estate’s oldest vines. The result is a wine with greater concentration and structure than a more open, early-drinking style, while still holding onto the fragrance and finesse that define fine Pinot Noir from Hemel-en-Aarde.

The nose opens with black cherry, rose, and strawberry, followed by more delicate notes of cinnamon and essential oil that bring added lift and nuance. On the palate, the texture is savory and classically dense, with beautifully integrated oak spice underscoring the fruit rather than overtaking it. There is real weight here, but it remains regal and composed, building steadily toward a long, complex finish. It would pair especially well with duck, roast quail, mushroom dishes, or herb-roasted chicken, where its red fruit, spice, and savory depth can settle naturally into the food.

This is a Pinot Noir made with cellaring in mind. While already impressive, it should continue to gain further detail and harmony over the next decade.