Ataraxia Earthborn Pinot Noir Hemel-en-Aarde 2020

Description

Located in the Hemel-en-Aarde on petrified sand dunes, Ataraxia was founded in 2004 by husband and wife team Kevin and Hanli Grant. A former Zoologist, Kevin spent years getting to know the intricacies of Hemel-en-Aarde`s terroir as head winemaker of Hamilton Russel.

Ataraxia is a deeply personal project for Kevin. along with some dear friends, he purchased 50 hectares of prime vineyard land in an exceptional landscape, known as `The Skyfields`. Nestled on this commanding rise beneath the soaring Babylons Toren mountain range, the vineyards are planted on some of the most spectacular terroir South Africa has to offer. It is a place where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay make their natural home, and where wines of incredible finesse, balance and depth are crafted, proudly holding their own in the international arena.

The name Ataraxia is "a term used to describe emotional tranquillity" explains Kevin. His approach to winemaking is minimalist and non-interventionist, geared to reflect a sense of place and expression of terroir.

'This vin de terroir made from our maiden vintage of organic grapes grown on Ataraxia, represents the first fruits of a journey of conversion to organic principles that started 5 years ago. It forms part of our ongoing quest to discover the very soul of our terroir. Traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques, including a prolonged period of pre fermentation cold-soak and spontaneous fermentation with no additions, and subsequent ageing in specially selected French oak barrels sourced exclusively from Burgundian coopers, comprised part of a gentle, minimalist, non-interventionist winemaking approach. In this way we have crafted a wine which we believe is the most authentic interpretation of our terroir to date, A terroir we believe ideally suited to Pinot Noir. And no other cultivar can express the concept of “earth” more accurately than the King of Grapes.' Kevin Grant