A new entrant into the category of South African Pinot Noir is the Julien Schaal ‘Mountain Vineyards’ made by husband and wife team Julien and Sophie Schaal. The 2021 is the second vintage. It is perhaps Sophie’s Burgundian origin that has inspired the Schaals to produce a Pinot Noir after so many years.
Julien Schaal first came to South Africa in the early 2000s to work as an intern at Bouchard Finlayson. He then returned to work with the Newton-Johnsons and first made his own wine in South Africa in 2005. A few pitstops along the way, and now Julien and Sophie are firmly encamped at the Paul Cluver cellar in Elgin, with the vineyards also supplying fruit for Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay and this Pinot Noir.
Julien and his wife Sophie are both winemakers based in Alsace, France and visit South Africa multiple times a year. Their Alsace wine cellar in the village of Saint-Hippolyte is dedicated to producing Grand Cru Rieslings where they work with some of the most famous and historic sites in all of France. We are currently working on importing some to South Africa.
The Julien Schaal wines are created from South African grapes seen through French eyes, and as Angela Lloyd puts it: “a classic, elegance, understatement are reflected in all, as well as a purity which clearly reflects origin,” she goes on to describe the Pinot Noir as “particularly lovely, gently perfumed, light, fresh & full of flavour”.
There is a lovely transparency to the Mountain Vineyards Pinot Noir – which is something that if not handled correctly can simply end up making light and inconsequential wine. This is not the case here, as there is an intensity of flavour to this wine, and a savoury fruit component that sets it apart from many of its contemporaries, even at much higher prices. We are very happy that Julien and Sophie have decided to start producing Pinot Noir.
Vintage 2021
Vintage 2021 in South Africa was a very good one both for quality and quantity. Cooler weather in the ripening period allowed a later harvest than what is normal. This gave phenolic ripeness to the grapes without boosting sugars too much. The end result are wines of fruit weight, but moderate alcohols, and balanced acids and tannin.
Julien Schaal ‘Mountain Vineyards’ Pinot Noir 2021
MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR
by Julien & Sophie Schaal
A new entrant into the category of South African Pinot Noir is the Julien Schaal ‘Mountain Vineyards’ made by husband and wife team Julien and Sophie Schaal. The 2021 is the second vintage. It is perhaps Sophie’s Burgundian origin that has inspired the Schaals to produce a Pinot Noir after so many years.
Julien Schaal first came to South Africa in the early 2000s to work as an intern at Bouchard Finlayson. He then returned to work with the Newton-Johnsons and first made his own wine in South Africa in 2005. A few pitstops along the way, and now Julien and Sophie are firmly encamped at the Paul Cluver cellar in Elgin, with the vineyards also supplying fruit for Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay and this Pinot Noir.
Julien and his wife Sophie are both winemakers based in Alsace, France and visit South Africa multiple times a year. Their Alsace wine cellar in the village of Saint-Hippolyte is dedicated to producing Grand Cru Rieslings where they work with some of the most famous and historic sites in all of France. We are currently working on importing some to South Africa.
Vintage 2021
Vintage 2021 in South Africa was a very good one both for quality and quantity. Cooler weather in the ripening period allowed a later harvest than what is normal. This gave phenolic ripeness to the grapes without boosting sugars too much. The end result are wines of fruit weight, but moderate alcohols, and balanced acids and tannin.
The wine
Read more about Julien and Sophie Schaal
Buy Julien Schaal wines
Please contact david@exanimo.co.za if you have any queries.