Cellar Favorite:
2016 Storm Wines Pinot Noir Vrede 

BY NEAL
MARTIN | SEPTEMBER 15, 2025

During a Burgundy and
(I prefer that word to “versus”) South Africa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir dinner in
Stellenbosch, it was abundantly clear that the Cape offers immense potential
with respect to those grape varieties. As vines age, one can only imagine the
heights that are achievable. One standout that evening came courtesy of winemaker
Hannes Storm, whose brother owns an identically named winery in California. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1757609433901-CF_Sept152025.jpg">The
2016 Pinot Noir Vrede is a doppelganger for a Burgundy. In <a target="_blank" href="https://vinous.com/wines/storm-wines-south-africa-pinot-noir-vrede/2016">my original
review</a> seven years ago, I likened this Hemel-en-Aarde wine to a Pommard and
rued that there was insufficient weight at the backend. Now nine years old, the
2016 has gained more density and retained an exquisite ethereal quality that
brings to mind Gevrey-Chambertin. The nose reveals brambly dark red fruit laced
with loam and hints of cold black tea. The palate manages to convey a sense of
weightlessness whilst asserting grip on the finish. It is a charming, soulful
Pinot Noir that is drinking beautifully now and will do so for another decade,
possibly more. Like so many South African wines, the Vrede represents
outstanding value. 92/Drink 2025-2037.&nbsp;© 2025, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or redistributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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