The Drift Estate 'There are Still Mysteries' Pinot Noir 2018, South Africa

The grapes “cold soak”for a few days before “wild”fermentation kicks off, the party taking place in the open top fermentors – 30% whole bunches. The cap is gently hand-plunged 3 time a day. We press off towards the end of the fermentation and age between 12 and 18 months in mostly old 225lt barrels. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

On the nose the wine is mesmerizingly complex – with notes of ripe strawberry, Indian spice, plum, cardamom, thyme, rhubarb, red cherry and a touch of toasty cinnamon. Every time one takes a sniff a new nuance reveals itself. The palate is elegant and soft, but alive and fresh with lingering creamy tannin. Flavours of strawberry, chocolate, dried garden herbs, ripe nectarine, warm spices and a touch of vanilla wash over your palate. The complexity of the wine could be overpowering, but is balanced by intriguing red berry freshness.

Try with king prawns or slow roasted veal shoulder. It goes with a lot of surprisingly rich foods as well.