The 2024 Art of Pinot Noir was made from a particularly small crop, with yields approximately 13% below the vineyard's average. Half of the fruit was retained as whole clusters, bringing aromatic lift, savory complexity, and additional structure to the wine.

Fermentation occurred spontaneously in large foudre with 50% whole clusters, followed by malolactic fermentation in barrel. The wine was matured in French oak, approximately 30% new, for around two years before bottling. It was bottled without fining or filtration, preserving the detail and character of this exceptional vineyard.

Creation's Art of Pinot Noir comes from the estate's oldest Pinot Noir vineyard, planted on a southeast-facing slope on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. The vineyard sits on decomposed Bokkeveld shale over clay-loam soils, while elevation and proximity to the Atlantic help moderate temperatures and extend the ripening season.

Jean-Claude Martin planted these vines in 2002 using virus-free material, an important factor in the vineyard's longevity and consistency. More than two decades later, the mature vines are increasingly capable of translating the distinctive cool-climate character of the Ridge into the glass.

The 2024 season brought particularly favorable conditions for Pinot Noir. Although severe winds during flowering reduced yields, the variety proved resilient. The resulting crop was small and concentrated, while a dry summer and just 69mm of rainfall during harvest provided excellent conditions for even ripening.

Cellarmaster: Jean-Claude “JC” Martin

The 2024 Art of Pinot Noir was made from a particularly small crop, with yields approximately 13% below the vineyard's average. Half of the fruit was retained as whole clusters, bringing aromatic lift, savory complexity, and additional structure to the wine.

Fermentation occurred spontaneously in large foudre with 50% whole clusters, followed by malolactic fermentation in barrel. The wine was matured in French oak, approximately 30% new, for around two years before bottling. It was bottled without fining or filtration, preserving the detail and character of this exceptional vineyard.

Creation's Art of Pinot Noir comes from the estate's oldest Pinot Noir vineyard, planted on a southeast-facing slope on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. The vineyard sits on decomposed Bokkeveld shale over clay-loam soils, while elevation and proximity to the Atlantic help moderate temperatures and extend the ripening season.

Jean-Claude Martin planted these vines in 2002 using virus-free material, an important factor in the vineyard's longevity and consistency. More than two decades later, the mature vines are increasingly capable of translating the distinctive cool-climate character of the Ridge into the glass.

The 2024 season brought particularly favorable conditions for Pinot Noir. Although severe winds during flowering reduced yields, the variety proved resilient. The resulting crop was small and concentrated, while a dry summer and just 69mm of rainfall during harvest provided excellent conditions for even ripening.

Cellarmaster: Jean-Claude “JC” Martin