Pinot Noir Ridge, Storm Wines 2021

Ridge is often the most backward of Hannes Storm's trio of remarkable single vineyard Pinot Noirs, sourced from an east-facing, high-density planting at 330 metres at La Vierge on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Plum, black cherry and a hint of graphite are underpinned by plenty of grip, backbone and intensity. One to tuck away for a while. Drink Window: 2024-2032.

All the Storm 2021 Pinots are extraordinarily perfumed – more than any other vintage. And the 2021 Ridge is totally different from the previous vintages of 2015, 2017 and 2019 that I tasted at the same time. A much more graceful, much less brooding wine than previous vintages. The aromas that fill the glass are of pink peppercorns and peonies. Feels more gentle, more transparent. The fruit has sharply bright sweetness, blood orange and tiny woodland strawberries and red cherries. Orange flowers and laurel-leaf notes dance over the top. Although, tasting it beside Vrede 2021 and Ignis 2021, you can still clearly see the 'earth element' of Ridge, versus the 'wind element' that I see in Vrede and and 'fire' of Ignis. But this is the prettiest Ridge, and I don't say that in a remotely demeaning way. I very much like this expression of the vineyard. Drink Window: 2024 – 2031.