Wine of the Day #45: Paul Cluver Pinot Noir 2007

How much? R180;
Where? Paul Cluver, a small principality in Elgin 27 (0)21 844 0605;
Why? This is not Alan Pick’s kind of Pinot. At a vertical tasting of Cluver Pinots in November, Sandton’s Mr. Meat pulled no punches: “South Africans are bold and brash. We want to be overwhelmed. We want grapes in a glass.” In which case the Chamonix 2007 is recommended, made by Gottfried Mocke, recently canonized into the Cape Winemakers Guild.

Paul Cluver and a Pinot

Paul Cluver and a Pinot

Those looking for subtlety will be happy with this floral, airy style wine. Someone called it “Vivaldi in a glass” but then it had been a long night. The most feminine of the wines in the lineup, winemaker Andries Burger has no doubts it will cellar well. “Elgin Pinot pH’s are usually in the range 3.2-3.3 as opposed to Hemel & Aarde which are usually over 3.5. pH is the key to the health of a wine, speaking of which, did you know that Pinot has ten times the resveratrol levels of Cabernet Sauvignon?”

Rating: *****

*****: Muhammad Ali
****: Baby Jake Matlala
***: Gerrie Coetzee
**: Kallie Knoetze
*: Jimmy Abbott