Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2021

Paul Cluver Wines sits within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve in Elgin, a cool, elevated district in South Africa's Western Cape South Coast known for slow ripening and fresh, structured wines. Seven Flags is the estate's flagship Pinot Noir, named for its oldest and best blocks and made under sustainable, conservation minded farming. Elgin's altitude and proximity to the cool southern coast give a long growing season with cold nights, which preserves acidity and builds the delicate red fruit and floral aromatics that define fine Pinot Noir. The shale and clay soils add a savoury, earthy thread. The grapes are fermented and the wine aged 12 months in French oak barrels, a measured time that adds spice and texture through slow oxygen exchange while keeping Pinot's transparency. In the glass it is bright ruby and pale at the rim, with a nose of red cherry, red berries and rose over forest floor, clove and a wisp of smoke. The palate is medium bodied, with silky tannin, fresh acidity and an earthy, savoury finish. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees in a large glass. It is a classic match for duck and game birds.