Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2022
Inspired by Nature and meticulously crafted by cellarmaster Jean-Claude Martin, each wine in Creation’s flagship Art Series is the ultimate expression of its terroir and indeed an exquisite and multifaceted artwork in its own right.
- Innovation fired by passion
- Charisma dancing on the breeze
- Authenticity born of the earth
- Memories to treasure
- Inspiration to shoot for the moon
Our Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2022 is a limited-release, barrel-selected wine from a specific pocket within a single vineyard. Each bottle is individually numbered (only 4950 bottles in 2022), offering exclusivity and collectability.
Located on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Creation’s elevation, proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, cool night index (diurnal fluctuation of 12°C) and early morning cloud cover make it possible for grapes to ripen slowly, resulting in wines with remarkable freshness and nuanced flavours. These cool-climate conditions are favourable for the development of anthocyanin.
Our Pinot Noir vines were planted virus-free on virgin land in 2003. At an altitude of 280 metres above sea level, the vineyard has various north- and east-facing aspects, with flat areas in between. The soils consist of clay and loam derived from decomposed 450-million-year-old Bokkeveld shale, with good drainage and water retention contributing to the structure and mouthfeel of the wines.
A key priority for our permanent, hands-on viticultural team is to ensure that these ancient soils stay healthy for future generations, through farming methods including the use of organic fertilisers and cover crops, mechanical weed control and hand-harvesting. Critically, the same skilled individuals in the team are responsible for pruning the vineyards, doing the suckering, and picking the grapes. ‘This handcrafted approach creates a virtual circle of quality throughout the growth period,’ says cellarmaster Jean-Claude (JC) Martin.
At the end of February 2021, grapes for our Art of Pinot Noir 2022 were hand-harvested early in the morning into small crates, two bunches deep. No additives whatsoever were needed to produce the wine, which was wild yeast fermented (60% whole bunch) in foudres, and then matured in French oak barrels (33% new wood and the rest second fill) for 12 months.
'The Art of Pinot Noir 2022 has a touch more perfume than previous vintages,’ says JC. ‘Vineyard health and meticulous viticultural practices promote a pure expression of the grape and terroir, and growing in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions must play a role in enhancing the wine’s complexity.'
