Paul Cluver - Pinot Noir Estate 2020
- Producer Paul Cluver
- Blend 100% Pinot Noir
- Country South Africa
- Region Cape South Coast
- Appellation Elgin
- UPC 6 50293 00003 6
Food pairing
The natural acidity makes it a perfect partner with a diversity of dishes. Game fish, game birds and
venison work very well, as does grilled beef and strong, hard cheese. Vegan friendly.
Tasting notes
This wine has a lovely luminosity, the color is bright crimson. The nose has delicate earthy aromas
combined with red and dark berry flavors. On the palate these characteristics follow through combining with interesting savory notes and just a touch of oak on the finish.
Vineyard
Currently there are 22.9 hectares planted to Pinot noir on the estate, which equates to 30% of the total
plantings. Clones include 667, 777, 113, 115 and PN5. The first vines were planted in 1989 and the
youngest blocks in 2015. Vines range in age from 2 to 29 years. The soil is predominantly decomposed
Bokkeveld Shale with underlying clay layers of varying depths. Vine orientation is North/South on North
east and South facing slopes and North west/South east on the South facing slopes. Height above sea
level ranges from 280 to 400 meters.
Vinification
Only Burgundian clones (667, 113,115 and 777) are used. Extensive individual berry sorting was done
by hand prior to crushing. This was followed by cold maceration at 12°- 14° Celsius for 6-8 days. The
fermentation was allowed to start naturally and was then some tanks were inoculated with selected
strains of Burgundian yeast after 3 – 4 days to ensure a complete fermentation. Where we experienced
strong clean wild ferments, it was allowed to continue. During the fermentation, the skin cap was
punched through by hand 2 times per day. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to French oak
barrels where malolactic fermentation took place. (32% new wood, the rest 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill.)
Maturation in oak was for 11 months, on the lees for the full period. After tasting and blending trials,
the wine was racked (displaced using Nitrogen gas rather than pumping), assembled and prepared for bottling.
Estate
The Paul Cluver estate is a 4th generation family business that has been farming in the Elgin Valley for more than 120 years. They are proud to have pioneered Elgin as a premium wine growing region. With a focus is on producing world class wines that reflect the uniqueness of the valley. They strive to achieve this while being mindful of their actions both on the environment and on the community. Their wines are a benchmark of the region.
