Paul Clüver Pinot Noir 2002 is released
Tuesday, 27 April, 2004
Shirley de Kock
A wine made with passion by the Elgin team
Paul Clüver Wines has released the 2002 vintage of its Paul Clüver Pinot Noir and, says winemaker Andries Burger, it is a wine made with passion by the Elgin team.
'Pinot noir is probably the most difficult red wine to make and those winemakers throughout the world who make it, do so with dedication and commitment. We believe this passion is evident in the complex palate of the Paul Clüver Pinot Noir 2002, which overflows with sweet berry flavours that linger long after the wine has been savoured.'
Burger says the wine has excellent colour with wild berry fruit on the nose enhanced by hints of chocolate, violet and coffee. 'The finish is typical, long and velvety and its tightly structured tannins ensure it will age and gain complexity in the next five to seven years. Of course, if you can’t wait,' he says, 'there’s absolutely nothing to stop you enjoying it right now!' Burger says it will complement venison, smoked salmon and carpaccio perfectly.
The berries were harvested two years ago on St Valentine’s Day from vines planted on the south east, south west and north eastern slopes of the cool estate in Elgin. The vines were all planted between 1989 and 1993. They were given cold maceration for three to five days prior to natural fermentation, followed by inoculation with French yeast isolated from Burgundy. During fermentation, the skin cap was punched several times a day and then the wine was racked and transferred to French oak, a third of which was new. After malolactic fermentation, the Pinot noir was left to mature in the barrels for 11 months.
The result, says Burger, is something of which 'I am particularly proud. It complements the range of elegant Paul Cluver Wines.'
All Paul Cluver Wines can be ordered from the estate
Tel: +27 (0) 21 844-0605