Boschendal 2020 Pinot Noir, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Boschendal (Dutch for bush and dale) is one of the oldest Wine Estates in South Africa and is located between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in South Africa’s Western Cape.This Iconic wine farm is nestled in one of the most picturesque valleys in the Cape Winelands. With a winemaking tradition spanning over 330 years, Boschendal Wine Estate offers a veritable treat for wine lovers everywhere.

The vineyards from which this lush Pinot Noir originate from have their roots in the cooler regions of the Western Cape. Vineyards ranging from the high-elevations of the Ceres-Plateau on the Western Coast’s side to Elgin (60% of the blend), which boasts some of the coolest vineyards in South Africa with an elevation of up to 1,348 feet. The soils are comprised mostly of decomposed granite and alluvial shales that have the capacity for optimal water retention to ensure the grapes are not overly stressed in the warmer months. All of the Pinot Noir is trellised, hand-pruned and harvested. Before harvesting the grapes, the vineyard teams go into the blocks to do bunch sorting. At one of the Elgin blocks, which also happens to have one of the highest elevations for vineyards in Elgin, it is found that baboons from the surrounding mountain range and Groenlandberg Nature Conservancy enjoy the grapes. Consequently extra care is always taken to ensure that no damaged bunches stay on the vines for long.