South Africa, Piekenierskloof
Chenin Blanc
Description
Made from grapes sourced from a very old dryland vineyard in the Piekenierskloof region planted in 1965, the main objective was to let this interesting fruit source speak for itself and show its typicity and specific character, ancient bush vines with a great view!
The result? A tribute to the age and concentration of the vines, the low yield and the non-intrusive way of creating this wine. A tight, bright, mineral wine with texture and mouthfeel and a hint of phenolic structure, a soft acidity and a pear drop intensity. Crafted to age and gain complexity in the bottle.
Awards
Silver Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
Tasting Notes
Certificates
Alcohol
14.0%
Analytical data
dry
Vinification
The wine was made naturally with completely spontaneous fermentation after extended soaking on skins and stalks before pressing, in barrels, straight on to malolactic fermentation and then only racked and a tiny addition of SO2. Back into beautiful old, natural 400L French barrels (6-10 years old) for a 5 month rest and natural clarification, then bottled unfiltered and unfined to comply with the “natural” rules and laws.
Only 8 barrels produced.
Vineyard: Klein Begin
Made from grapes sourced from a very old dryland vineyard in the Piekenierskloof region, planted in 1965.
Soil Type
Sandy top soil - deep gravel.
Viticulture
A proper old vineyard of veritable age, on a beautiful remote mountainside in the classic old "bush vine" or French "gobelet" style mimicking a brandy snifter in shape. The challenge with this delightful old vineyard was extreme - somehow the team had to make a wine that could show the age, experience of the vines and showcase the terroir and more specifically the vintage.
Maturation
Maturation in old, natural 400L French barrels (6-10 years old) for a 5 month rest and natural clarification.
