Hamilton Russell Vineyards Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir 2016

The harvest was remarkably similar in timing to 2015, but the growing season was wetter and a little warmer and the wine is quite different: where 2015 was all charm, 2016 has a bit of a scowl. The colour is slightly darker, the wine is firmer, tighter and earthier with gruffer, grainier tannins and the saline and graphite-mineral side is much more pronounced. If that sounds less attractive, it’s more challenging, for sure, but I wouldn’t count against this wine turning into a swan. Already, given time in the glass, an alluring wild strawberry, rose petal and spice fragrance emerges.