Pinot Noir Ridge, Storm Wines 2023

Hannes Storm’s Ridge Pinot Noir uses grapes from a dry-farmed, 1.1-hectare parcel at La Vierge that’s planted with 7,500 vines per hectare. Firmer and more backward than his other two Pinots, it has flavours of plum and orange zest, a hint of clove spice and the concentration and intensity to age beautifully in bottle. The finish goes on for a minute.

Translucent ruby colour with read edge and intrigue on the nose, the Ridge has an x-factor that makes it very enticing. Pressed flowers and a full array of al dente red fruits - wild strawberry, garrigue and cranberry together with rose and cherry blossom all come through. The palate matches light smoky tones of wood with the salty herbal notes of stems and oodles of crunchy, moreish red fruit. This is pithy, long, driven and characterful. Precise, fine-boned and emminently drinkable, I expect this to be even better with time in bottle but I will be opening bottles as soon as they arrive in the UK.