Graham Beck Artisan Collection Pinot Meunier 2022
This is a Blanc de Noirs with an ever so slight, subtle hue of light pink. Elegant, fresh nuances of white peach, red apple, young berries and spice rises from the glass, with undertones of floral notes developing as the wine opens up. The palate is vibrant and fresh, yet creamy and textural thanks to the fermentation under cork. Flavours of ripe red apple, grapefruit and almonds adds to the complexity of the palate, while the vibrant acidity gives the wine great length and leads to a lingering, succulent finish.
Country: South Africa
Region: Robertson, Elgin
Grapes: 100% Pinot Meunier
ABV: 12%
70% of fruit was grown in Robertson on limestone soils with the remaining 30% fruit grown on weathered shale soils in Elgin. The two different portions were hand-picked and pressed separately, with only the cuvee fraction of each portion considered for exclusive release. The Robertson portion of the grapes were harvested on 18 January 2022, with the Elgin portion harvested on 10 February. The clarified juice was split into an array of fermentation vessels of differing materials for primary fermentation, where the wines remained for 5 months.
The final blend consists of 25% terracotta amphoras, 25% ceramic pots, 25% neutral French oak barrels and 25% stainless steel tanks.
The wine was bottled on 21 June 2022 for the second fermentation which was done under cork instead of the more conventional crown cap closures. After two years of lees maturation in the bottle, this unique Cap Classique was disgorged by hand on 13 June 2024, using a vintage hand-operated agraffe application machine dating from 1938.
