# Moya Meaker Pinot Noir (2023)

- **Producer:** Moya Meaker Wines
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Western Cape, South Africa
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €30
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, fennel, rhubarb, raspberry, rose petals, vanilla, pink peppercorn, cloves, iron ore, earth

## About this wine

The Moya Meaker Pinot Noir 2023 is a single-varietal Pinot Noir from the W.O. Elgin appellation in South Africa's Cape South Coast. The wine is named in tribute to Moya Meaker, a former Miss South Africa, reflecting a spirit of resilience and joy. The estate, established by David Curl, focuses on expressing the cool-climate terroir of Elgin through premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Elgin Valley, a high-altitude plateau, provides a cool growing environment with extended hang times, influenced by Bokkeveld shale soils. The 2023 vintage benefited from a cold winter and mild spring, contributing to the wine's freshness and fruit concentration. The winemaking philosophy emphasizes purity, finesse, and a strong sense of place, blending Old World refinement with New World vivacity.

## Interesting facts

- Named after 1959 Miss South Africa, Moya Meaker.
- Elgin Valley is often called a 'valley in the sky'.
- Vine age for this vintage is 24 years.
- Uses 100% destemmed whole berries for fermentation.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright acidity and fine tannins complement the richness of oily fish and poultry, cutting through fat and cleansing the palate. Its red fruit and subtle earthy notes harmonize with game birds, mushrooms, and herb-infused dishes.

## Wine making process

The Moya Meaker Pinot Noir 2023 is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The fruit is hand-harvested and undergoes fermentation in concrete tanks using 100% destemmed whole berries, a method chosen to highlight fruit purity. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for 11 months in 300-liter Burgundian barrels, with 20% new oak and light toast. The winemaking approach emphasizes sustainable farming and minimal intervention to allow the cool-climate terroir of Elgin to express itself. The estate's philosophy is to capture the essence of the vineyard, focusing on purity and finesse.