2012 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir

Hamilton Russell Vineyards is in the cool, maritime appellation of Hemel-en-Arde, nestled behind a historic fishing village off the southern tip of South Africa. The estate was founded in 1975 by Tim Hamilton Russell, who bought nearly 450 acres. In 1994 Russell’s son Anthony Hamilton Russell purchased the property and decided to focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Today there are 125 vineyard acres dedicated to low-yield production of Burgundian style wines. Wine Spectator has written that Hamilton Russell Vineyards “has become a flag bearer for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from South Africa.”

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.