THE BERNARD SERIES OLD VINE CHENIN BLANC by Bellingham 2019
South Africa, Coastal Region
Chenin Blanc
Description
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.
Awards
Gold MUNDUS vini award
Tasting Notes
Certificates
Alcohol
13.5%
Analytical data
dry
Winemaker Richard Duckitt talks Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc
Vinification
The vineyards were harvested at two ripeness levels to add complexity. Hand-picked, larger portion of natural fermentation in barrel; Foudre; Amphora and Concrete tanks. Cool climate fruit expression with good acidity. The barrels and Foudre are individually cooled to the optimum fermentation temperature. This allows slower and longer fermentations that enhance fruit and integration between the wine and oak. After fermentation, the wine was left on its lees and batonnage monthly until blending and bottling.
Vineyard: 50% Cape Town (Durbanville); 50% Stellenbosch (Bottelary Hills)
The grapes for this celebrated wine are from 4 exceptional Chenin Blanc vineyards aged between 35 and 47 years. These low yielding old bush vines grow in soils that are predominately weathered granite soils and are shaped by the ocean breezes from nearby Table and False Bay. The sites are especially known to produce powerful wines of exceptional concentration, acidity and balance.
Soil Type
Predominately consists of weathered granite.
Viticulture
The grapes for this celebrated wines are from 4 exceptional Chenin Blanc vineyards aged between 35 and 47 years old. These low yielding old bush vines are grown in predominately weathered granite soils.
