Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Origin: Coastal Region (Agter-Paarl, Durbanville and
Bottelary Hills)
Vintage Comment: 2015 was the Goldilocks vintage for
Chenin blanc, not to warm, not to cold, just perfect. Ripe
fruit, lower sugars and great analysis.
In the Vineyard: The grapes for this wine are from 3
exceptional Chenin Blanc vineyards with an average age of
45 years. These low yielding (4-5 tons per hectare) mature
bush vines grow in soils that are predominately weathered
granite with open canopies for maximum sunlight penetration.
In the Cellar: Grapes are hand harvested at 24°Balling and
are pressed in whole bunches before single-lot fermentation.
The wine is wood matured for 12 months in 50% new French
oak and 50% second fill barrels with extended lees contact
and regular batonnage for richness and added depth and
dimension.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: A luminescent gold wine with
rambunctious fleshy peach, passion fruit, honey melon, papaya
and pineapple fruit aromas layered with whiffs of oatmeal
and crushed wheat that follow through with lavish
concentrated fruit flavours from the nose – powerful yet
accommodating on the palate with discernible, yet seamless
and subtle spicy oak complexity. The riveting finish is fresh
and intense with tremendous length, making it a great wine
for enjoyment with food.