Thamnus, Pinot Noir 2022
With its delicate perfume and refined structure, the Thamnus Pinot Noir 2022 is a wine of quiet confidence and layered complexity. The nose is fragrant with rose petals, crushed violets, and a touch of exotic spice, leading into a core of bright red cherry and wild raspberry. Subtle notes of damp earth, mushroom, and forest floor add depth, reflecting its cool-climate origins. The palate is beautifully poised, showing an interplay of fresh acidity and finely woven tannins. Red berry fruit takes center stage, supported by hints of black tea, clove, and vanilla from well-judged French oak maturation. A whisper of baking spice lingers on the finish, adding warmth to the wine’s elegant restraint.
£47.70
Overberg
Pinot Noir
LightFull Bodied
Description
BACKGROUND
Thamnus wines originate in a remote corner of the Overberg, South Africa, where renowned wine regions converge. In close proximity to Walker Bay and overlooking the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, the vineyards benefi t from exceptional wine-growing conditions found only here. Our unique terroir also nurtures the rare mountain rose, Orothamnus Zeyheri for which our wines are named. The vineyards traverse North-facing slopes set 285m above sea level, where extended sunlight and cool nights
come together with ancient Cape soils to yield expressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Inspired by the Orothamnus Zeyheri, Thamnus Wines are distinct, rare and beautifully crafted by our terroir.
VINTAGE DESCRIPTION
The 2022 season began with a promising winter, but shifting weather – summer heatwaves followed by sudden cold and rain, tested our vineyards. Thankfully, our high-altitude, north-facing vines thrived, benefiting from an extended ripening period. Careful vineyard management ensured grape health, leading to optimum ripeness with exceptional flavour, colour, tannin, and acidity. This vintage is defined by its resilience, balance, and elegant complexity.
WINEMAKING
We opted against whole-bunch fermentation, as extended sunlight provided ample tannin. Fermentation took place in 5-ton fermenters with pump-overs for controlled extraction, followed by a 10-day maceration. Natural malolactic fermentation occurred in 36% new French oak, where the wine matured for 10 months, enhancing its structure and depth. The result is a balanced, complex wine that reflects the character of this unique vintage.
TASTING NOTES
With its delicate perfume and refined structure, the Thamnus Pinot Noir 2022 is a wine of quiet confidence and layered complexity. The nose is fragrant with rose petals, crushed violets, and a touch of exotic spice, leading into a core of bright red cherry and wild raspberry. Subtle notes of damp earth, mushroom, and forest floor add depth, reflecting its cool-climate origins. The palate is beautifully poised, showing an interplay of fresh acidity and finely woven tannins. Red berry fruit takes center stage, supported by hints of black tea, clove, and vanilla from well-judged French oak maturation. A whisper of baking spice lingers on the finish, adding warmth to the wine’s elegant restraint.
WINE ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 12.95%
Total Acidity: 6.1 g/l
pH: 3.26
Additional information
| Alcohol vol | 13% |
|---|---|
| Grape | Pinot Noir |
| Origin | Overberg |
| Wine Farm |
- Poultry: Herb-roasted chicken, duck confit, or wild quail.
- Fish: Pan-seared or grilled salmon and seared tuna steaks.
- Vegetarian & Earthy: Wild mushroom risotto, truffle-infused pasta, or roasted beetroot and goat cheese salad.
- Cheeses: Semi-firm, nutty, or creamy options like Gruyère, Comté, or Brie.
91 points | Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2024
“A marked improvement on the 2021 release, P. J. Geyer’s Pinot Noir uses three different clones (113, 115 and 777) from a single parcel on Shaw’s Mountain. Savoury spicy and peppery, it has a waft of tobacco leaf and aromatic herbs and a core of redcurrant and summer berry fruit. 2025-29.”
Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2024 –
94 points | Greg Sherwood MW Wine Safari Score
The 2022 Pinot Noir is at first quite smoky and stony with hints of graphite, struck match and charcoal embers over sour red plum, black berry, curry leaf and bruised ripe strawberry fruits. There is a fullness and ripeness on the palate with a feel of density and extract from the sunshine while remaining stony, flinty and attractively smoky. While there are suggestions of exoticism on the palate, the wine remains unwaveringly elegant, light touch and beautifully focused. Should be at its best in 3 to 5 years time.”
Greg Sherwood MW Wine Safari Score –