Catherine Marshall, Sandstone Pinot Noir, 2024
Catherine Marshall, Sandstone Pinot Noir, 2024
- Red Still
- 75.0cl
- 13.5%
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Pinot Noir
Catherine Marshall is one of the Cape's most thoughtful and influential winemakers, and her Sandstone Pinot Noir is as good an argument as any for Elgin's claim to serious cool-climate Pinot. Atlantic influence keeps temperatures honest and acids bright, and the 2024 is everything we want from this site: perfumed, precise, and genuinely Pinot in character rather than a warm-climate approximation of it.
We find it fresh and fine-boned, with red cherry, dried rose, and a cool forest-floor quality that gives it real personality. The tannins are gossamer-fine, the acidity lively without being sharp, and there's a mineral thread running through to the finish.
- ❖ ABV: 13.5%
Grapes
Pinot Noir
Vintage report
Western Cape in 2024 sits at the intersection of a cool maritime season and a region that has never been more confident in what it is doing. The Benguela Current kept temperatures in check through the growing season, with growers reporting good diurnal swings that allowed gradual, even ripening rather than the kind of sprint to sugar that flattens character. There were some late-season nerves around disease pressure following a wetter-than-usual period in summer, but those who kept their nerve and waited were rewarded with fruit that arrived in the winery in genuinely good shape.
The results are wines with real definition. Pinot Noir from the Hemel-en-Aarde sub-valleys has that taut, savoury quality the best vintages here produce — red-fruited, structured, with the kind of grip that suggests patience will be repaid. Chardonnay is equally focused, with mineral tension rather than broad generosity.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceTranslucent ruby with a pale garnet rim and excellent clarity.
NoseBright red cherry and wild strawberry open the wine, followed by dried rose petal and a cool, slightly earthy undercurrent. There is a delicate spice quality, almost like crushed pink pepper, that keeps things lively and interesting.
PalateFine and precise on entry, with silky tannins and a line of fresh acidity that carries the fruit cleanly across the palate. Red fruit dominates, but there is a savoury, almost herbal quality mid-palate that gives the wine real texture and depth. The weight is restrained, which is very much the point.
FinishLifted and mineral, with a lingering freshness and just a whisper of dried spice.
Overall impressionA cool-climate Pinot that earns its elegance rather than performing it.
Food Pairings
Fresh seafood is never far away, and a lightly chilled glass alongside grilled linefish, particularly yellowtail or snoek, is a natural pairing. Locally, you would also find this served with slow-roasted lamb from the Overberg interior, where the fynbos-grazed meat has a delicate herbaceous note that mirrors the wine's savoury character. Mushroom-based dishes work beautifully here too, whether a simple wild mushroom risotto or a braai-side portobello with garlic and thyme.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 14-15°C, which is cooler than most reds but right for a Pinot of this weight and style. A brief 20-30 minute decant will help the fruit open up and the fine tannins relax, though the wine is quite approachable without it. Use a larger Burgundy-style bowl to give the aromatics room to develop.
The vineyards on the higher slopes of Elgin are among the coolest in the valley, with altitude bringing lower temperatures and slower ripening. They often have shallow, stony soils over sandstone and shale, with good drainage and relatively low fertility. The combination of cool days, cold nights and long hang-time helps retain acidity while allowing flavour to develop slowly. Wines from these sites tend to be taut, aromatic and mineral rather than broad or overtly fruity.
Elgin is one of South Africa’s coolest and most distinctive wine regions. Set in a high, mountainous valley southeast of Cape Town, it sits at around 200–450 metres above sea level and is strongly influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean. The result is a cool, maritime climate with long growing seasons and relatively mild summers. Elgin is best known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Syrah also do particularly well. The cooler conditions help retain natural acidity and give the wines a freshness and precision that sets them apart from much of the warmer Western Cape. Chardonnay in particular can be remarkably fine-boned and mineral, while Pinot Noir tends towards bright red fruit, savoury detail and a lighter, more restrained style. The soils are varied, but iron-rich clay and sandstone-derived soils are common, with plenty of well-drained, rocky ground. Elgin was historically better known for apples and pears than grapes – it remains one of South Africa’s major fruit-growing areas – and vineyards occupy only a small part of the valley.
Western Cape in 2024 sits at the intersection of a cool maritime season and a region that has never been more confident in what it is doing. The Benguela Current kept temperatures in check through the growing season, with growers reporting good diurnal swings that allowed gradual, even ripening rather than the kind of sprint to sugar that flattens character. There were some late-season nerves around disease pressure following a wetter-than-usual period in summer, but those who kept their nerve and waited were rewarded with fruit that arrived in the winery in genuinely good shape.
The results are wines with real definition. Pinot Noir from the Hemel-en-Aarde sub-valleys has that taut, savoury quality the best vintages here produce — red-fruited, structured, with the kind of grip that suggests patience will be repaid. Chardonnay is equally focused, with mineral tension rather than broad generosity.
FAQs
What does the Sandstone Pinot Noir taste like?
Precise and elegant, with bright red cherry, dried rose petal, and a cool earthy quality. The tannins are silky and the finish is mineral and lifted. This is a Pinot defined by freshness and restraint rather than richness.
When should I drink this wine?
It is drinking well right now and will continue to do so until around 2032. We would not hold it much beyond that. If you want to cellar a few bottles, the sweet spot is probably 2028-2030.
What food should I pair with this?
Think grilled fish, roasted lamb, mushroom dishes, or anything with a savoury herbal quality. It is versatile enough for the dinner table without being a pushover. Avoid anything too rich or heavily sauced.
How should I serve it?
Serve at around 14-15°C and give it 20-30 minutes in a decanter to open up. Use a wider Burgundy bowl to let the aromatics breathe properly.
Is this a good example of South African Pinot Noir?
It is one of the better ones, yes. Elgin has become one of the Cape's most credible address for Pinot, and Catherine Marshall is one of its most respected names. This wine punches well above its weight in terms of precision and site character.
Is this worth buying as a gift?
Absolutely, particularly for someone who already knows and loves Pinot Noir. It has enough personality and provenance to impress without being showy, and the single-vineyard story gives it something to talk about over the table.
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