South African producer in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley with Pinot Noir, Hannibal's Sangiovese based red blend, and a fynbos conservancy around the vines.
The producer
Bouchard Finlayson was founded in South Africa's Hemel-en-Aarde Valley by Paul Bouchard and Peter Finlayson. The range includes Pinot Noir, Hannibal, a red blend of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Mourvedre and Barbera, and a white made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The vineyards are surrounded by a conservancy dedicated to protecting endemic fynbos within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known for
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir and Hannibal
Notable facts
The vineyards are planted at 9,000 vines per hectare.
Green harvesting removes 35% of the crop at veraison.
Bouchard Finlayson is a pioneer for the World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation.
The story
Eighteen Members, Ten Years
Paul Bouchard and Peter Finlayson formed a founding group of 18 members with 17 investors. Bouchard came from Domaines Bouchard Aine et Fils in Beaune, while Finlayson was a South African Pinot Noir pioneer. The vineyards sat in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, surrounded by a conservancy for endemic fynbos within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first commercial vintage for the estate was 1991. The partnership lasted ten years before internal political conflicts led to dissolution. The Tollman family acquired the estate in 2000.
Eighteen Members, Ten Years
Paul Bouchard and Peter Finlayson formed a founding group of 18 members with 17 investors. Bouchard came from Domaines Bouchard Aine et Fils in Beaune, while Finlayson was a South African Pinot Noir pioneer. The vineyards sat in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, surrounded by a conservancy for endemic fynbos within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first commercial vintage for the estate was 1991. The partnership lasted ten years before internal political conflicts led to dissolution. The Tollman family acquired the estate in 2000.
From the atlas
Bouchard Finlayson
A South African producer in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley founded by Paul Bouchard and Peter Finlayson, with Pinot Noir and Hannibal in its range.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Western Cape, South Africa
Valley
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Red wines
Pinot Noir and Hannibal
White wine
Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc
Scale
22 hectares under vine
Feature
A fynbos conservancy of 100 hectares, dedicated to protecting endemic fynbos, surrounds the vineyards within a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Producer
Paul Bouchard, a Burgundian winemaker, came from Domaines Bouchard Aine et Fils in Beaune. Peter Finlayson was a South African Pinot Noir pioneer. The two founded Bouchard Finlayson in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in 1989, and the first commercial vintage was 1991.
Vines are planted at 9,000 vines per hectare. Green harvesting removes 35% of the crop at veraison, the stage when the grapes begin to ripen. Bouchard Finlayson is a pioneer for the World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation.
The range places Pinot Noir beside Hannibal, a red blend, and a white made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Place
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley runs inland from the coastal town of Hermanus in the Western Cape. Hannibal carries the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, while Galpin Peak Bouchard Finlayson and Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc are Cape South Coast wines. The labels separate the valley red blend from the Cape South Coast red and white bottles.
Wines
Galpin Peak Bouchard Finlayson 2016 is a Cape South Coast Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noirs are built for ageing, with firm acidity and mineral definition the valley is known for.
Hannibal is a red blend built from 41% Sangiovese, 26% Nebbiolo, 8% Pinot Noir, 9% Shiraz, 6% Mourvedre and 10% Barbera. The 2020 vintage earned 93 points in the 2023 Tim Atkin SA Special Report.
Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc 2019 is a Cape South Coast white made from 86% Sauvignon Blanc and 14% Semillon.
Final Word
The Bouchard Finlayson range brings Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir together with Hannibal's red blend and a Cape South Coast white made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.