Newton Johnson Walker Bay Pinot Noir 2024

Newton Johnson is a family estate in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, part of the Walker Bay district on South Africa's cool Cape South Coast. The family has specialised in Pinot Noir here for more than twenty-five years, drawn by a maritime climate that suits this demanding grape. Cold air off the nearby Atlantic slows ripening and extends the growing season, which preserves acidity and gives Pinot Noir its perfume and finesse, while the region's clay and weathered shale soils add structure and a savoury edge. The wine is aged twelve months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and adds a light spice without masking the fruit. In the glass it is a pale to medium ruby, with aromas of fresh cherry and red berries lifted by floral and gently spiced notes. The palate is medium bodied and silky, with fine tannins, bright acidity and an earthy, savoury undertone that runs through to a clean finish. This is a wine of elegance rather than weight. Serve lightly cooled at around 15 to 16 degrees, with roast duck, poultry or mushroom dishes.