2023 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2024-2038
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite-origin soils with a significant portion of clay in the subsoil
Elevation 300.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2006
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details 14 barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard lies 12 km from the sea. 2023 was a late vintage with great ripening conditions and very healthy fruit; the wine was picked in two batches from two vineyard sites 100 meters apart. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, and matured for 10 months in new and older 228 liter French oak barrels. Jessica Saurwein describes a minimal-intervention approach.
Tasting Notes
red berry fruit, strawberries, red cherries, black cherries, plums, exotic spices, red berries, fynbos, fruit-coated tannin, crisp acidity, savoury umami
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin MW: 95/100
Tim Atkin MW95/100
Neal Martin, Vinous.com89/100
2022 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2023-2038
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite-origin soils with a significant portion of clay in the subsoil
Elevation 300.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2006
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details 18 barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard lies 12 km from the sea. 2022 was a late vintage with great ripening conditions and very healthy fruit; the wine was picked in two batches from two vineyard sites 100 meters apart. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, and matured for 10 months in new and older 228 liter French oak barrels. Jessica Saurwein describes a minimal-intervention approach.
Tasting Notes
red berry fruit, strawberries, red cherries, black cherries, plums, exotic spices, red berries, fresh hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin, velvety tannin, crisp acidity, medium-bodied
Critics Ratings Neal Martin, Vinous.com: 92/100
Neal Martin, Vinous.com92/100
Tim Atkin MW94/100
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za93/100
Jamie Goode, Wineanorak.com96/100
Julia Harding, JancisRobinson.com16.5/20
2021 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2021-2035
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite-origin soils with a significant portion of clay
Elevation 300.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2006
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details 14 barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard lies 12 km from the sea. 2021 was a late vintage with great ripening conditions and very healthy fruit; the wine was picked in two batches from two vineyard sites 100 meters from each other. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, and matured for 10 months in new and older 228 liter French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes
red berry fruit, strawberries, red cherries, black cherries, plums, exotic spices, red berries, fresh hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin, velvety tannin, crisp acidity, medium-bodied
Food Pairing French cuisine, refined Asian cuisine, African cuisine, savoury vegetarian dishes with aubergine, savoury vegetarian dishes with beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke, fish, poultry, duck, red meat
Critics Ratings Neal Martin: 92/100
Neal Martin92/100
Tim Atkin93/100
Christian Eedes94/100
Julia Harding16/20
2020 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2021-2035
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite-origin soils with a significant portion of clay
Elevation 300.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2006
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details Six barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard lies 12 km from the sea. Excellent early ripening conditions turned wetter close to harvest, making picking date critical; hand-sorting in the vineyard and cellar ensured only optimal fruit was fermented. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, and matured for a minimum of 10 months in new and older 228 liter French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes
red berry fruit, black berry fruit, strawberries, red cherries, black cherries, plums, exotic spices, red berries, beetroot earthiness, fresh hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin, crisp acidity, medium-bodied
Food Pairing French cuisine, refined Asian cuisine, African cuisine, savoury vegetarian dishes with aubergine, savoury vegetarian dishes with beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke, fish, poultry, duck, red meat
Critics Ratings Neal Martin: 92/100
Neal Martin92/100
Tim Atkin MW93/100
Greg Sherwood95/100
Christian Eedes93/100
Falstaff International94/100
2019 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2021-2035
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite-origin soils with a significant portion of clay
Elevation 300.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2006
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details Six barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Place of the Gods Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. This dryland vineyard lies 12 km from the sea. The official 2019 page section describes excellent early ripening conditions that turned wetter close to harvest, making picking date critical; hand-sorting in the vineyard and cellar ensured only optimal fruit was fermented. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, and matured for a minimum of 10 months in new and older 228 liter French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes
red berry fruit, black berry fruit, strawberries, red cherries, black cherries, plums, exotic spices, red berries, beetroot earthiness, fresh hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin, crisp acidity, medium-bodied
Food Pairing French cuisine, refined Asian cuisine, African cuisine, savoury vegetarian dishes with aubergine, savoury vegetarian dishes with beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke, fish, poultry, duck, red meat
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin MW: 93/100
Tim Atkin MW93/100
2018 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite with a significant portion of clay
Grape Clone 115, 667
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2006
Production Details First vintage. Four barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Domaine des Dieux Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Hermanus. 2018 was a dry Cape vintage, leading to tiny grapes, a high grape-to-juice ratio, a lean energetic style, great fresh acidity, and fine tannin.
Tasting Notes
red currant, patchouli, rose petals, red cherry, lifted spice, red forest fruit, beetroot earthiness, hibiscus, fruit-coated tannin, balanced acidity
Food Pairing French cuisine, refined Asian cuisine, savoury vegetarian dishes with aubergine, savoury vegetarian dishes with beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke, white meat, fish, poultry, duck
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin: 91/100
Tim Atkin91/100
Greg Sherwood94/100
Shop prices
| Reference | Vintage / size | Price / bottle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine-SearcherLWIN 2168492 | — | — | wine-searcher.com ↗ |
Producer Information
Website
Address
Waterval Farm, Stanford, Western Cape, South Africa
Phone
+27 76 228 3116
Email
Owner
Jessica Saurwein
Cellarmaster
Jessica Saurwein