2023 Moya Meaker, Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa
Critics reviews
The 2023 Pinot Noir Elgin comes from vines on Bokkeveld shale, fermented with whole berries but not whole clusters to avoid pepperiness. It matured in 20% new Burgundian barrels for 11 months. This is perhaps a step up from the 2022 last year. There’s more complexity and sous-bois characteristics on the nose, with vivacious red berry fruit, briar and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid red fruit and good structure. Gently grippy, this might just miss a bit of finesse and persistence, but it has the substance to merit aging in bottle.
Drink 2025 - 2035
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (August 2024)
About this WINE
Moya Meaker
Nestled in the picturesque Elgin Valley of South Africa, Moya Meaker embodies the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity in winemaking. Renowned for its cool climate and pristine terroir, the Elgin Valley provides the perfect backdrop for Moya Meaker’s pursuit of excellence. The winery is named in honour of Moya Meaker, a figure of grace and resilience whose legacy inspires every bottle produced. Her story is one of elegance, and her spirit is reflected in the meticulous craftsmanship and dedication that define the estate’s approach to winemaking.
Moya Meaker focuses on cultivating premium varietals, with a particular passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which thrive in the valley’s unique microclimate. The estate employs sustainable farming practices, ensuring that every step, from vine to bottle, respects the land and its future. The winemaking philosophy emphasises minimal intervention, allowing the distinct character of the vineyard to shine through in each vintage.
Elgin
This cool lush corner of the Western Cape is east of Stellenbosch. Historically Elgin has been better known for its apple orchards, but is fast proving its potential for wine, with elegant examples of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and even Syrah.
Circled by mountains, the cool-climate ward sits within the Overberg region. Aromatic grape varieties thrive in Elgin’s slow-ripening conditions, with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and even Syrah showing promise.
Recommended producers: Richard Kershaw MW
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.
Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.
Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.
The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
Definitely in the red fruit spectrum with cherry, cranberry and rose petals. 100% destemmed to highlight the fruit, 20% new oak at light toast. I’d serve this cellar cool to really highlight the brightness of the fruit and keep everything nice and taut. Lovely, easy spring and summer sipper.
Fergus Stewart, Private Client Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Using 300l barrels, oak is not the driver here. It’s all about crunch, freshness and the zing of fruit from the Pinot. Red berries are plentiful. I even detect notes of Rhubarb and Grapefruit rind. This is open and delicious and with a ‘star’ in my book, meaning it’s gone straight onto my shopping list!
Amy Johnson, Senior Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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