Om Pinot noir Ratings & Accolades

OM PINOT NOIR 2021

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"W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. 15% whole-bunch fermentation before being matured for 10 months in French oak, 25% new – winemaking the same for below. Alluring aromatics of red cherry and wild strawberry plus hints of fynbos, cured meat and white pepper. Good fruit expression, well integrated acidity and fine tannins – relatively low in alcohol (13.3%) but not entirely without weight or texture, the finish gently savoury. Understated and slow to reveal itself." – 94/100 points, Christian Eedes, Winemag.com

“Now in its fourth vintage, Jessica Saurwein's impressive Pinot Noir is made with grapes from Domaine des Dieux on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Light, pale, elegant and refined, it's a South African Chambolle-Musigny style, with rose petal and raspberry coulis notes, granular tannins and some spices from 15% whole bunches.” - 93/100 points, Tim Atkin MW, Drink: 2022-27

“...from dry-farmed vines on the Bokkeveld shale soils matured for 10 months in 25% new oak, 10-15% whole bunch. It offers brambly red berry fruit, hints of paind’epices and light sous-bois scents. The palate is medium-bodied with very plient tannins, smooth and harmonious, taut and fresh with a touch of salinity on the Volnaysian finish. Just a lovely Pinot.” - 92/100 points, Neal Martin, Vinous.com

“Name means peace. Light cherry red. Sweet red fruits is the first impression. A little sweet/sour. Packed with fruit flavour, lots of freshness and juicy sweetness but not much complexity. Plenty of pleasure. Gentle tannins.” – 16/20, Julia Harding, Drink 2023 – 2027

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OM PINOT NOIR 2020

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“The 2020 Pinot Noir Om has a bit more finesse and nuance and perhaps a touch more mineralité compared to the Nom Pinot Noir, offering vivacious red cherry and raspberry preserve scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and quite piquant, like the Nom, if perhaps revealing a little more balsamic infusing the red fruit toward the finish. Enjoy this over several years.” – Neal Martin, 92/100 points

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“Om – not to be confused with Nom – is Jessica Saurwein’s Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Pinot Noir, made in a silky, lacy, almost defiantly elegant style with scented 25% new wood, racy acidity and flavours of pomegranate, citrus and raspberry coulis.” – Tim Atkin MW, 93/100 points, Drink: 2022-27

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“While the Saurwein Nom and Om cuvees exhibit similar youthful foresty aromatics of savoury red and black berry fruits, bramble berry spice and a roasted cashew nut complexity, it’s on the palate that the real brilliance of the Om cuvee is revealed. Utterly vivacious and vibrant, refreshingly tart and fresh, boasting notes of cranberry, red cherries, pomegranates and blood oranges with a beguiling stony mineral tannin seam running through the wine. The wine finishes with hints of espresso, exotic sweet baking spices and a supremely sleek harmonious length. This is a class act, both sophisticated and seamlessly balanced. A new benchmark for Jessica. Bravo! Drink now and over 10-15 years.” – Greg Sherwood MW, 95/100 points

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“A hint of flinty reduction before rose and red cherry. The palate has a smart linearity about it – lovely clarity of fruit, bright acidity and crunchy tannins. Well balanced and energetic.” 93/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

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OM PINOT NOIR 2019

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“Resonantly named for a symbol of universal creation, peace. Riveting, has sultry red berry fruit layered with silky tannins in a powerful expression. Textured but still refined & elegant. From Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge grapes.” 94/100, David Swingler, Platter’s Wine Guide 2021

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“The Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge may be the youngest of the valley’s three wards in terms of vineyard age, but it’s producing increasingly impressive wines. This stony, sappy, savoury Pinot noir, deftly wooded in 25% new barrels, has floral top notes, fresh acidity and subtle red cherry and pomegranate fruit.” 93/100, 2021 – 27, Tim Atkin Special Report 2020

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OM PINOT NOIR 2018 (FIRST VINTAGE)

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“With a most brilliant translucent ruby cherry red colour, the seduction starts long before one even tastes this wine. Fabulously perfumed and lofty, the aromatics convey the very best nervy components of a cool climate South African Pinot Noir with sappy crushed rose petals, tart bright cranberry, red cherry, sour red plum and crunchy strawberries immersed in cookie dough ice cream. The palate is sensual and sleek, sublimely elegant and pure with intensity, electric freshness and laser bright crystalline strawberry confit length. But you’d be wrong to think this is just another cool-climate Pinot Noir. It’s sophistication, balance, finesse and sensual harmony place this incredibly beautiful wine on a pedestal of Pinot Noir grandeur. Classy in every sense of the word. I’m smitten! The ultimate “less is more” kind of wine!” – 94/100, Greg Sherwood, September 2019

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“Jessica Saurwein makes just 1,000 bottles of this elegant, refined Pinot Noir from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge with fruit purchased from Domaine des Dieux. Early picked with 15% whole bunches adding some texture and sap, this is fresh and racy with tangy red berry fruit sweetness. 2020-26” – 91/100, Tim Atkin, South African Special Report 2019