Kershaw Wines Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge GPS Pinot Noir 2019

Kershaw Wines Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge GPS Pinot Noir 2019

Richard Kershaw, a British winemaker, is one of the few who has mastered both the theoretical and practical side of winemaking. As a Master of Wine and a successful winemaker, he moved to South Africa in 1999, where he learned the art of winemaking and started his own production in 2012.

Kershaw Wines' vineyards are located in Elgin, a wine region in the Western Cape, surrounded by mountains and just 10 kilometres from the coast. This provides a cool climate with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, which encourages the development of grape aromas. Kershaw's signature is the use of clones of vines, primarily Chardonnay and Syrah, which are carefully adapted to the specific terroir of the selected plots, chosen for their unique location and soil.

The grapes for this wine were carefully handpicked, sorted and destemmed. They were then placed on a vibrating table to remove any unwanted berries before being fermented whole and uncut in small 500kg open tanks. A three-day maceration took place before natural fermentation began. A gentle délestage program was used, with the juice being drawn out of the tank daily to remove unwanted yeasts. After 10-12 days on the skins, the grapes were gently pressed in a basket press. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and matured for 10-11 months in French oak barrels before being bottled.

In the cellar, Kershaw strives to minimize interference with the wine's natural process. He employs innovative methods, such as the use of frozen carbon dioxide to create movement in the wine without adding oxygen. The result is wines that are both intense and elegant, complex and refreshing, with harmonious balance and a long, persistent finish.