Tesselaarsdal Pinot Noir
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Pinot Noir 2023
A true reflection of fruit from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, the 2023 Pinot Noir elegantly reflects beautiful layers of sour cherries and wild strawberries with hints of cloves. We proudly release this elegant age-worthy wine.
A very challenging 2023 harvest, but thankfully with all grapes in before the rains in March, This did not have a negative effect as the vines received natural irrigation which helped decrease the effect of water stress levels on the vines allowing them to function better and allow optimal functionality for the ripening period.
The vineyards had even budburst and the initial growth was also even, mainly due to higher than normal maximum and minimum temperatures during September. Grape quality was very favourable leading to an exceptional vintage. The Season’s length, coolness and reduced yields have made for a great quality harvest.
“Next South African Pinot noir icon.”
— Greg Sherwood
“[E]ven in the short time since we first tasted it, it’s taken on a bit of weight and shows a lovely balance between power, freshness and spice. It’s a great effort…”
— Damon Quinlan
“The palate is silky and fine with supple red cherry fruit. Such elegance, showing good structure and acidity. A brilliant debut vintage and it should age nicely, too.”
— Jamie Goode
Pinot Noir 2022 – Sold Out
Aluid magnum mustum. The 2022 Pinot Noir displays a true reflection of fruit from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Layers of subtle notes of red cherries and raspberries with combined hints of cloves and baking spices. We proudly release this elegant, age-worthy wine.
| Alcohol | 12.99% |
| Acid | 5.2 |
| pH | 3.51 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 33%, 2nd fill 23%, 3rd fill 23%, 4th fill 21% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 506.66 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | January 2023 |
Pinot Noir 2021 – Sold Out
One of the best vintages to date, the 2021 Pinot Noir classically displays the pristine fruit from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. This wine reveals notes of red cherries, cranberries and raspberries combined with hints of nutmeg and clove spices. We are proud to release this elegant, age-worthy wine.
| Alcohol | 14.42% |
| Acid | 5.1 |
| pH | 3.46 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% (MLT 34%, Medium 26%, Blonde 40%) |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 35%, 2nd fill 29%, 3rd fill 29%, 4th fill 7% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 344.74 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2022 |
Pinot Noir 2020
A pretty wine with a translucent fresh cherry colour and a nose of lifted cherry fruits and almost bready aromatics. A beautiful line of acidity lifts the fruit while the almost impossibly soft and silky tannins melt effortlessly into the languid finish. An understated Pinot Noir of deep, hidden power.
| Alcohol | 13.10% |
| Acid | 5.5 |
| pH | 3.45 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% (MLT 21%, Medium 36%, Blonde 43%) |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 35%, 2nd fill 29%, 3rd fill 29%, 4th fill 7% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 344.75 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2021 |
Pinot Noir 2019 – Sold Out
This small-production, classically-styled Pinot Noir succinctly expresses the personality of the cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge and its elevated, iron-rich soils. Lifted wild red fruit and sour cherry aromas give way to a silky palate tinged with delectable, salty minerality. A profoundly graceful wine that will age beautifully.
| Alcohol | 13.30% |
| Acid | 6.0 |
| pH | 3.31 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% (MLT 29%, Medium 21%, Blonde 50%) |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 35%, 2nd fill 29%, 3rd fill 29%, 4th fill 7% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 327.5 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2020 |
Pinot Noir 2018
A delightful nose punctuated by notes of red and black fruit, musk and fresh herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and tightly wound with good fruit concentration, fresh acidity and super-fine tannins. The long and savoury finish makes for a delicious wine with serious ageing potential.
| Alcohol | 12.82% |
| Acid | 5.6 |
| pH | 3.40 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.6 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 25%, 2nd fill 25%, 3rd fill 50% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 338.91 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2019 |
Pinot Noir 2017
Our best vintage to date, the 2017 has greater depth, structure and plushness of palate than both the 2016 and 2015, retaining the clean, lifted blue fruit that is a characteristic of the best Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Pinot Noirs. This wine combines the tight minerality of the old world with the pure sumptuous fruit of the new.
| Alcohol | 13.8% |
| Acid | 5.61 |
| pH | 3.44 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.85 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 30%, 2nd fill 23%, 3rd fill 30%, 4th fill 17% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 322.58 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2018 |
Pinot Noir 2016
This wine boasts a fine, bright sour red berry character, and even hints of violets on the nose—bright and elegant start to finish. Lifted acidity and tightness with a hardening line of minerality place it more in the old-world than the new. It is distinctly feminine and elegant with a lovely dusting of grape tannins.
| Alcohol | 13.30% |
| Acid | 6.0 |
| pH | 3.31 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% (MLT 29%, Medium 21%, Blonde 50%) |
| French Coopers | François Frères 100% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 35%, 2nd fill 29%, 3rd fill 29%, 4th fill 7% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 327.5 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un- irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2020 |
Pinot Noir 2015
An aromatic and fine Pinot Noir with sweet red cherry fruit, white pepper and a hint of ginger on the nose. The palate is silky and fine with supple red cherry fruit. Restrained sophistication, superb structure and balanced acidity make for a wine which will age elegantly.
| Alcohol | 12.9% |
| Acid | 5.9 |
| pH | 3.46 |
| pH | 3.46 |
| Residual Sugar | 1.5 |
| Barrel Ageing | 9.5 months |
| Wooding | 100% 228 litre French oak barrels |
| Tight Grain | 100% |
| French Coopers | François Frères 75%, Mercurey 25% |
| Malolactic Fermentation | 1st fill 25%, 2nd fill 25%, 3rd fill 50% |
| Yield | 6 tons/ha |
| Production | 100.16 cases |
| Fruit Origin | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 100%, Un-irrigated La Vierge Vineyards |
| Release Date | February 2016 |
