Crystallum Wines, Newton Johnson Vineyards and Storm Wines
Live Virtual Auction, 3 April 2022
Session 1
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About this Item
After working 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as winemaker at Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Hannes Storm discovered 2 tiny parcels of land with particularly exceptional terroirs and planted them with Pinot Noir in 2008. 2012 saw the maiden vintage being released and was produced from low-vigour, stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld (‘Buck Veld’) shale soil in the Valley ward. Hannes is now the only producer of Pinot Noir from each of the three appellations in the Hemel-en-Aarde and the Vrede is widely regarded as SA’s benchmark. Just 350 cases were produced, and it offers fine aging potential.
Ignis Pinot Noir hails from a northern slope in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Organically farmed, the vineyard is cluttered with round pebbles on the soil surface with underlying decomposed granite. Latin for “fire”, ignis refers to the fact that granite is an igneous rock formation – “from fire to stone”.
Critics Ratings
‘The 3 Storm Pinots treated identically in the cellar (except for 3% variance in new-oak portion) to express terroir. From more light-structured decomposed granite of Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, Ignis more fruit forward than siblings and thus more approachable in youth but with such precise acid tension it could easily prove the most long-lived. 2018 exceptional pure-fruited charm; long-lingering 2017 (97 pts) unshowy but similar honed athletic frame. Both 30% new wood. Also in magnum.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2020, 5* (96/100)
‘Ignis comes from a north-facing site opposite the Newton Johnsons' cellar, located on stony granite soils. Grippy, sappy and crunchy, with the freshness of a cooler slope, refined tannins, notes of fynbos and cassis leaf and a long, tapering finish. Classy Pinot. 2020-26.’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 95/100
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