NEW RELEASES: Storm 2024 Chardonnay and 2023 Pinot Noir
2024 Chardonnay, Vrede
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
2024 Chardonnay, Ridge
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
2023 Pinot Noir, Vrede
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
2023 Pinot Noir, Ignis
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
2023 Pinot Noir, Ridge
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
Hannes Storm’s 2024 Chardonnays and 2023 Pinot Noirs have just been released. We have not had a chance to taste them yet ourselves but most of you will be very well aware of our huge admiration for these excellent single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Hemel-en Aarde in South Africa.
By way of reminder, Hannes Storm had worked in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley for 14 years before setting up his own estate. To establish his estate, he acquired distinct, small parcels of vineyard that he felt offered exceptional terroir and resulted in wines of differing characters. The first vintage releases of Storm were the 2012s, when Hannes ran it as a side-line venture. Today, given the success of his wines, he, and his wife, Nathalia, devote all their time to Storm.
The Hemel-en-Aarde valley lies on the coast, due south of Stellenbosch, and the valley stretches inland from Hermanus (famous for whale-watching). This is a wonderfully picturesque part of the world, and it comes as no surprise that Hemel-en-Aarde translates as ‘heaven on earth’. This is a great location in which to cultivate fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as the area benefits from the cooling oceanic influence.
The Chardonnays from 2024 represent a small, concentrated crop, picked early to retain freshness and pressed hard to ensure there is structure to support all the typical white citrus and stone fruit. The alcohol level on both Chardonnays comes in under 13%. In terms of the Pinot Noir single vineyards, Vrede tends to show subtle red fruit and silky texture, Ignis is invariably characterised by aromatic elegance, while Ridge shows darker fruit and a firmer structure. These character traits seem to have been confirmed in the 2023s by Tim Atkin MW, whose notes are given below.
These wines are avidly followed by Atlas clients – and this offer regularly proves to be one of our fastest selling offers. The quality, individuality and value for money of this range are all exceptionally high year in, year out.
2024 Chardonnay, Vrede, Hemel en Aarde, Storm Wines
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
Vrede Chardonnay – or Peace Chardonnay – hails from a northeast-facing slope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. Ageing was French barrique (25% new) over 11 months.
2024 Chardonnay, Ridge, Hemel en Aarde, Storm Wines
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
Ridge Chardonnay comes from a high-density vineyard on a cool, eastern slope on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge with low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil. Ageing was in French barrique (25% new) over 11 months.
2023 Pinot Noir, Vrede, Hemel en Aarde, Storm Wines
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
Vrede is a north-east facing slope in the lower Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the soils are predominantly stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale bringing texture and complexity. Aged for a year in 25% new French oak
96 points, Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com
Picking before the rain was very important in 2023 and Hannes Storm did just that. Vrede comes from a 3.6- hectare block planted with the 113, 115 and 777 clones on Bokkeveld shale and is generally the most opulent of his three single-site Pinots. Savoury fleshy and slightly ferrous, it has layers of rose petal, wild strawberry and orange zest and refined, detailed tannins.
2023 Pinot Noir, Ignis, Hemel en Aarde, Storm Wines
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
Where Vrede is 50% clay and 50% shale, the 2.4 hectare Ignis site is cluttered with round pebbles on the surface with primarily decomposed granite beneath. Situated at 225m altitude in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, it is (warm) north facing but more exposed to the wind. It has been farmed organically since 2015. Aged for a year in 25% new French oak.
96 points, Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com
Ignis hails from a warmer, comparatively free draining 2.4-hectare block on decomposed granite that’s planted with four different Burgundian clones (113, 115, 667 and 777). Floral, ethereal and layered, it has some spice and texture from 15% whole clusters, subtle 28% new oak, a slightly salty top note, caressing wild strawberry, pomegranate and goji berry flavours, savoury tannins and mouth-watering acidity.
2023 Pinot Noir, Ridge, Hemel en Aarde, Storm Wines
£185 per 6 bottle case in bond
The highest site in the range at 330m in the Hemel-en Aarde Ridge, Ridge Pinot benefits from a cool south easterly wind. Its easterly exposure allows for a longer hang time and a tighter, mineral feel. Aged for a year in 25% new French oak.
96 points, Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com
Hannes Storm’s Ridge Pinot Noir uses grapes from a dry-farmed, 1.1-hectare parcel at La Vierge that’s planted with 7,500 vines per hectare. Firmer and more backward than his other two Pinots, it has flavours of plum and orange zest, a hint of clove spice and the concentration and intensity to age beautifully in bottle. The finish goes on for a minute.
Please let us know of your interest.
Atlas Fine Wines
finewineoffers@atlasfinewines.com