It is always a pleasure to taste the Storm wines, and it is even more enjoyable to taste alongside Hannes, the charming and charismatic owner and winemaker at Storm. Hannes came over to London a couple of weeks ago, and so I sat down to taste the new vintages of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with him. Suffice to say, it cemented my love of these wines and it is easy to see why they have become such a favourite amongst Atlas clients and staff alike. I would happily argue that these are right up there with the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced in South Africa.
By way of background, 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.
Hannes 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.
Sadly, production of the Chardonnays is extremely limited in 2021, so there is very little stock. Fortunately, 2020 was a more abundant year, as the region finally had some rain after a run of years of serious drought, though production is still small, with only around 1,000 cases of 6 bottles of each of the Pinot Noir produced.
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, and the 2020 Pinots and 2021 Chardonnays are no exception. Please see below for my notes on each of the new releases.
2021 Chardonnay Ridge, Storm
£170 per 6 bottle case in bond
Initially closed on the nose, with notes of orange blossom and ripe peaches. On the palate there is great concentration – lovely layers of apricot, fresh oranges, honeycomb and an orange zest tang. The 2021 Ridge has a lovely creamy, almost glossy texture – mouth filling, and yet light on its feet. Juicy, mouthwatering and highly appealing, this is a fantastic rendition of the Ridge. Drink 2022-2030+ (LH)
2021 Chardonnay Vrede, Storm
£170 per 6 bottle case in bond
Enticing aromas of sweetly spiced cooked apple on the nose, reminiscent of apple crumble. On the palate, there are delicious notes of ripe orchard fruit, burnt lemon and red apples, with a slightly waxy lemon note. Again, there is a viscosity to the texture, but the overwhelming impression is one of energy and vibrancy, a buzzy acidity carrying the wine to a long persistent finish. Drink 2022-2028 (LH)
2020 Pinot Noir Ignis, Storm
£170 per 6 bottle case in bond
Notes of sweet spices and dark berries on the nose. The palate shows a mix of red and dark fruits, blackberry, wild strawberry, tangy dried orange peel, and subtle hints of sweet spices. There is a little more grip on the 2020 Ignis than has been evident in recent vintages, which works well here. As with the entire Storm range, it is characterised by an inherent clarity and energy – a fantastic Ignis. Drink 2023-2032 (LH)
2020 Pinot Noir Vrede, Storm
£170 per 6 bottle case in bond
An aromatic nose displays notes of dried flower petals and red berry fruit. On the palate, there is a real sense of purity; notes of vibrant red fruits, crunchy cranberries and strawberries are allied to perfumed notes of sweet spice and rose petals. Concentrated, clear and bright, there is a lovely sense of poise in the 2020 Vrede. Fine grained tannins and a wonderfully spicy finish add to the appeal of this stunning Vrede. This is, for me, the finest Vrede they have ever produced. Drink 2024-2032+ (LH)
2020 Pinot Noir Ridge, Storm
£170 per 6 bottle case in bond
On the nose, there is a wonderfully intense note of blackcurrant fruit pastille and a hint of smoky graphite. The palate reveals a concentrated core of dark fruit; loganberries and damsons allied to notes of cinnamon and cloves, and just a hint of vanilla. Again, there is ample grip in 2020 and electrifying energy, and a stunningly long smoky, mineral finish. A knock-out. Drink 2024-2035+ (LH)
Please note that it may be necessary to limit clients to one case of each.
Please let us know of your interest.
Best
Laura