2022 Tesselaarsdal, Pinot Noir, South Africa, 1.5 L

93 points, Tim Atkin MW
"First made in 2015, Berene Sauls' Pinot Noir has developed a reputation for consistently high quality. One of several top reds that employs grapes from La Vierge on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, it includes 10% whole bunches, adding a spicy top note to a palate of raspberry, plum and pomegranate and savoury tannins. 2024-29"

93 points, Vinous
"The 2022 Pinot Noir includes 10% whole bunches, some fruit stomped by foot Berenice Sauls herself, spontaneously fermented, and aged in French oak for almost ten months. It has a very precise bouquet with fragrant dark cherry and sous-bois aromas, very Côte de Beaune in style. The medium-bodied palate has fine tannins, is very harmonious, and has lovely sapidity with a tensile finish. Maybe Berene Saul's best Pinot so far - chapeau!"

90 points, Wine Spectator
"An elegant red, with a delicate, herbal overtone, boasting ripe and juicy black cherry and black raspberry fruit. It gains depth from an underpinning of smoke, zesty ground white pepper, and anise, while creamy tannins define the finish. Drink now through 2026. 250 cases made, 175 cases imported."

• South Africa – Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay • Tesselaarsdal produces refined Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, combining cool-climate finesse with a pioneering and inclusive vision in South African wine. Founded in 2015 by Berene Sauls, a protégé of Hamilton Russell, Tesselaarsdal represents one of the first Black female-owned wine brands in South Africa. The name pays homage to the hamlet of Tesselaarsdal where Berene was born, while the wines reflect her pioneering spirit and dedication to site expression. The estate focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, drawing fruit from unirrigated vineyards on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. This sub-zone sits at higher elevation than the Valley below and is defined by ancient Bokkeveld Shale-derived clay soils, maritime breezes from the nearby Atlantic, and sharp day-night temperature shifts. These conditions naturally limit yields, preserve acidity, and lend the wines precision, minerality, and freshness. The Ridge is known for producing finely structured, elegant wines with depth and tension, and Tesselaarsdal captures that signature in every vintage. The wines are elegant, pure, and finely tuned, showing balance and restraint alongside distinctive site character. More than just quality, Tesselaarsdal’s story symbolizes progress and inclusivity within South Africa’s wine industry, carrying forward a legacy that is both cultural and viticultural.