2020 Black Estate Damsteep Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Damsteep Pinot Noir is dark and brooding, with a forest floor/sous bois character that provides shade and density to the fruit. There is black cherry, blackberry, freshly turned earth, dark chocolate/cocoa and olive tapenade. The oak is present and gritty, but it does not overwhelm the fruit. The ripeness/alcohol is in a good place too. 13.5%, sealed under screw cap.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Pinot Noir Damsteep is a textural delight that blossoms seamlessly. Hailing from a sloped vineyard on clay over limestone, it has become increasingly refined and today embodies elegance and finesse with a purity of red cherry fruit.
Perfumed aromas of wild strawberries, lavender, cloves, pink peppercorns and citrus zest. Medium-bodied, with firm yet silky tannins and bright acidity. Sophisticated pinot. From organically grown grapes. Unfined and unfiltered. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
The 2020 Pinot Noir Damsteep is like a tortoise. Still in its shell, it is a broody, intriguing style waiting to emerge. The dense mid-palate retains a sense of transparency in the mouth. There are red cherry aromas, florals, mushrooms nuances and subtle baking spices waiting to blossom within the dense core. The abundant acidity makes your mouth water like a flowing stream. The fine chalky tannins in combination with the acidity provide a line of tension on the finish. This is an assured and unadulterated organically grown Pinot, hailing from 20-year-old vines planted on sandstone and fractured clay, and unfined, unfiltered and only encountering sulfur at bottling.