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.