December 2006

Pinot Power

By: Charlie Hardie (Cellar Master at Browns of Rivonia)

It is about time that we explored the conundrum that is Pinot Noir. Described as a minx of a grape, home is Burgundy in France, there is simply no cultivar that excites the wine senses quite like Pinot Noir. Capricious in the extreme, the chase for winemakers is to capture the elusive essence that makes Pinot Noir, in my opinion, the finest of all natural red wines.

The biggest hurdle for Pinot Noir is to secure optimum ripeness. It is a thin skinned grape which if sneezed upon will ruin any chance of natural fruition, which is fine when picked gently unripe for the production of Champagne or Methode Cap Classique. But augurs badly for bottling purposes as a wine in its own right.

Despite this there are enough local wine producers who seek the Holy Grail, and when achieved will reward the wine drinker with as hedonistic a sensation that is simply unparalleled. We here at Browns have scoured these producers, sorted the wheat from the chaff so to speak, and can genuinely claim to provide a range of South Africa's finest Pinot Noir's that is simply in a class of its own.

Call 011 803 7533 or email bookings@browns.co.za