Bouchard Finlayson, Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2020 vs Chambolle-Musigny, Les Sentiers, 1er Cru, Domaine Robert Groffier Père & Fils, Burgundy 2023

Bouchard Finlayson, Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2020

Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir is beautifully balanced, rich, and dark, with inviting aromas of berries, plums, and subtle floral notes. The palate is expressive and refined, showing pure fruit flavours and a smooth, generous finish. It’s drinking well now but has the structure to age gracefully for several years. The wine comes from the estate’s clay-rich soils in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, an area perfectly suited to Pinot Noir. Unusually for South Africa, the vineyards are planted in tightly spaced rows following the traditional Burgundian model. This encourages natural competition between vines, resulting in smaller yields and fruit of greater intensity, depth, and colour - a hallmark of Galpin Peak’s distinctive character.