Cap Maritime Coastal Pinot Noir

Tasting Note Cap Maritime Coastal Pinot Noir

The Cap Maritime Coastal Pinot Noir opens with pure and inviting aromas of cherries, plums, and blackcurrants, complemented by earthy tones, light smokiness, and subtle spice. On the palate, it is elegant and refined: the fruit is fresh yet ripe, with soft tannins and a lovely finish in which minerality and oak are subtly present.

Food Pairing

Cap Maritime Coastal Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with roasted chicken or turkey with mushrooms and herbs, duck or pigeon with a fruity sauce, grilled vegetables such as eggplant or bell pepper, creamy pasta or risotto with mushrooms or truffle, and also with veal or lamb in light or mildly spiced preparations.

Additional information

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is located approximately twenty kilometers from Hermanus, the coastal town on Walker Bay that is also known as the ‘whale capital’ of South Africa. It is warm, but rarely exceeds thirty degrees during the growing season. This is due to the cool sea breeze and the fact that the vineyards are generally situated at higher altitudes. Therefore, the perfect place for making wines.

After the harvest, the grapes are transported in refrigerated trucks to the Boekenhoutskloof cellars in Franschhoek, where the grapes undergo a careful selection. The majority of the grapes are destemmed, while about 20-25% of the grapes are pressed as whole clusters. Fermentation occurs spontaneously in stainless steel, followed by aging for 12 months in French barriques.

At home in Franschhoek, Marc Kent has made a name for himself with blockbuster wines like Boekenhoutskloof Semillon, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which belong to the absolute elite of South Africa. But Kent has more strings to his bow. In addition to these showpieces produced in limited quantities, he also makes exceptionally attractive wines under the Porcupine Ridge and The Wolftrap labels that are available to a wider audience. At a slightly higher level, The Chocolate Block certainly belongs here too.

Wine scores/awards 🏆

• The 2021 Coastal Pinot Noir was awarded a 95-point score by Decanter.
• The Cap Maritime Pinot Noir (2020) was rated 92 points by Platter’s South African Wine Guide.
• Boekenhoutskloof was named the best winery of South Africa in the 2020 Platter's Wine Guide.
• Head winemaker Gottfried Mocke was named Winemaker of the Year 2020 by Tim Atkin.