Kara Tara Pinot Noir 2023

The Kara Tara Pinot Noir 2023 is a lesson in restraint, a wine that understands the power of subtlety in a world that too often rewards volume. Grown in the cool maritime pockets just inland from the South Atlantic, this Pinot Noir carries the imprint of sea breezes and sandstone soils. The vintage was moderate, without the heat spikes that sometimes push South African reds into overdrive, and that sense of calm is reflected in the glass. This is a wine that does not push forward, it draws you in.

In appearance, it is a light ruby, clear through the core, almost translucent at the rim. It gives nothing away too early. The aromatics arrive delicately but with intention. Sour cherry, crushed raspberry and redcurrant are the first notes to rise, wrapped in a gentle veil of rose petal and fresh thyme. The fruit is bright and defined, not lush, and there is a quiet savoury edge beneath it, something like rooibos or wild fynbos, distinctly South African without becoming rustic. A trace of warm stone and subtle spice rounds out the bouquet, with oak playing a background role, more texture than flavour.

On the palate, the wine is supple and finely tuned. Acidity is the central thread, giving the fruit a lifted, kinetic energy that makes each sip feel alive. The flavours lean toward the tart and the precise, with cranberry and blood orange leading into red cherry and rhubarb. There is no excess weight, no sticky sweetness or overwrought tannin. Instead, the texture is silken, with very fine, almost invisible tannins that shape the mid-palate like a good frame shapes a painting. There is a saline snap to the finish, that clean edge that makes the wine feel coastal and mineral rather than fruity or floral. A hint of tea leaf and spice lingers just long enough to reward pause without demanding it.

The 2023 vintage has given this wine tension and elegance, keeping it firmly in the realm of cool-climate Pinot Noir while still offering a sense of approachability. It is not a wine of layers upon layers. It is a wine of clean lines and graceful movement. The pleasure is in its purity, in the way it communicates origin and vintage without ornament or apology.

Food pairings should lean into freshness and savour. Think seared duck breast with grilled nectarines, beetroot carpaccio with goat’s cheese, or even lightly spiced lentils with coriander and yoghurt. A washed rind cheese with a creamy centre would echo the wine’s gentle texture, while dishes with herbal or citrus accents will mirror its aromatic lift. Serve it slightly cool, not cold, in a large glass that gives it room to breathe. There is no need to decant. Let the wine find its rhythm naturally.

The 2023 Kara Tara Pinot Noir is not trying to make a statement, and that is precisely what makes it so compelling. It is composed, cool, and thoroughly modern in its restraint. It captures the quiet confidence of South Africa’s new wave, where less is finally being recognised as more. A wine of clarity and calm, it leaves you refreshed, not overwhelmed, and ready to listen more closely to what this country’s Pinot Noir is really capable of saying.