Chamonix, Franschhoek (South Africa) Pinot Noir 2014

If you aren’t yet familiar with the wines of Chamonix my recommendation is to sample some of this South African’s offerings.  I think you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.  I haven’t absolutely loved everything thing I’ve tasted from Chamonix, but my favorites loom high in my estimation, with this Pinot Noir being one of those favorites.  Don’t look here for the over-extracted juicy, fruity style that some Pinot producers continue to inflict on us.  Chamonix, by contrast, is in every way subtle, yet profound, and that is not a contradiction in terms.  Take the wine’s color:  Without being densely dark it shimmers with a luminous amethyst hue that invites immediate tasting.  The aroma offers up appropriate Pinot hints of earth and floral fragrance.  In the mouth the wine is both silky and sinewy, with fresh fruity flavors nicely balanced by soft tannins.  While it was matured in French oak barrels the influence of that oak is unobtrusive, adding perhaps a little muscle and texture to the wine but never stealing the show.