No doubt about it: Robert Parker Wine Advocate ratings are eagerly awaited by producers of fine wines, worldwide. In a recent review of 501 South African wines, the 2022 Creation Art of Pinot Noir came up tops among the Pinot Noirs, scoring an impressive 95 points.
Asked to comment on this achievement, Creative Director Carolyn Martin refers to the ‘Four P’s of Creation Pinot Noir’: Place, Philosophy, Personality and Pairing. Expanding on Place, she says: “Our estate benefits from its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its elevation above sea level. That, together with a diurnal fluctuation in temperature which contributes to a long window for ripening, allows us to grow fine Pinot Noir. The grapes ripen gradually, evenly and fully, resulting in delicate fruit flavours, balanced by crisp acidity and subtle, silky tannins.”
While the Creation Art of Pinot Noir can be described as the ‘Pinnacle of Pinot’, the estate also boasts an enviable reputation for its Estate, Reserve and Emma’s Pinot Noir.
No less than seven Creation wines are rated 91 and more in the review, with comments ranging from “incredible depth and complexity” to “some of the best Chardonnay from the Rainbow Nation”. Here are some extracts:
Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2022 – 95 points: . . . begins with a fresh and expressive nose that offers complex and subtly spiced aromas of potpourri, rose petals, picturesque red fruit and seductive oak with brown baking spices . . . This beautiful Pinot is delicate, with a long, lingering finish and will continue to deliver pleasure for over a decade.
Creation Reserve Pinot Noir 2022 – 94+ points: . . . offering a bursting, bright and energetic floral nose of roses and potpourri with crunchy red fruit essences. The wine offers incredible depth and complexity while showing freshness and precision.
Creation Art of Chardonnay 2022 – 94 points: Rising from the glass with precision and elegance . . . plenty of succulent citrus notes with notions of almond skin and green and yellow apples. This is some of the best Chardonnay from the Rainbow Nation, and it deserves to be admired and consumed with the best.
Creation Reserve Chardonnay 2022 – 93+ points: . . . a full expression of harmonious tree fruit, offering layers of Meyer lemon skin and yellow apples with a soft undertone of sautéed almond. . . . the perfect amount of oak backbone so as not to overpower and mask the fruit’s natural beauty. This could easily be confused for Burgundy. Wow!
Creation Roussanne, Grenache Blanc 2022 (soon to be released) – 93 points: . . . an elegant fresh, citrus and mineral-driven nose. . . . a delightful mineral tension, crisp and lively acidity and a rich mouthfeel. It’s an incredibly food friendly and cerebral wine, which has me thinking about all possible food and wine pairing applications.
Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay 2022 – 91+ points: . . . offers delightfully soft smoky essences with baking spice . . . Medium-bodied, the palate has succulent flavors of vanilla and buttercream with notions of poached yellow apples and spiced pear. It’s a beautiful bottle of Chardonnay.
Creation Emma’s Pinot Noir 2022 – 91 points: . . . bursting with aromas of spiced dark cherries and showing more of the New World expression as it pops with fresh florals and fruit tones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a fantastic mineral essence that drives the mid-palate and commands the finish.
