“Bravo to Hamilton Russell, who have produced an outstanding Pinot Noir in 2010, one of the finest New World expressions of the grape variety that I have encountered. When Hamilton Russell gets it right, they hit bullseye.”
This is what Neal Martin said about the Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2010 Pinot noir in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, scoring the wine95/100 (Classic: a great wine), an unprecedented score for a South African Pinot noir and particularly pleasing to us to have achieved for our 30 vintage milestone wine. We were similarly delighted when our 21st vintage of Pinot noir, the 2001, won the trophy for Best Pinot noir at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.
We have always believed strongly in our 2010 and regard it as one of the finest Pinot noirs made to date on our Estate. I have personally cellared extra bottles to enjoy from around ten years maturity with guests at home!
Sadly, our 2010 has nearly sold out from the property, but should be on restaurant wine lists and some retailers’ shelves for a time. From November 2015, single bottles of the 2010 will again be available in very small quantities as part of our next 5 bottle (½ decade) Pinot noir vertical – all bottles with selected top South African artworks as the back labels. We expect to release our Pinot noir 2011 around the end of March.
From earthworm tea applied to our stony, clay-rich vineyards, to proprietary endemic yeast fermentations and no sterile filtration in the cellar, our team will continue to work very hard to refine and improve yet further what has become one of the classic Estate grown Pinot noirs of the world.