South Africa, Stellenbosch
Chenin Blanc
Description
Crafted from old dry land farmed Stellenbosch bush vines planted in 1983 on granitic rich soils, fermented and matured in old French oak barrels. This 2018 vintage is lithe, svelte ‘n shy Steen, exhibits a combination of citrus blossom, yellow fruits, green apple, ripe pear, subtle spice ‘n rooibos & tell-tale chalky finish with lift of acidity to whet the palate. Serve chilled & best decanted. Cellaring is advised to enjoy the wine at its optimum. 1176 bottles
Awards
4.5 stars Platter's South African Wine Guide
Tasting Notes
Certificates
Alcohol
13.0%
Analytical data
dry
Vinification
The fruit is destemmed & crushed into press, allowed skin contact for three hours, gentle pressing with free-run juice cold settled overnight. Next morning the juice is racked off high portion of lees into large format old French oak barrels, inoculated with a neutral yeast strain & cool fermented for three weeks. Post ferment, the wine is racked into 228L old French oak barrique for 9 months sur lie ageing, prior to blending into stainless steel tank with portion of fine lees prior to bottling unlined unfiltered.
Vineyard: Kliprug / Rock Ridge
A single terraced vineyard, dry farmed bush vines planted in 1982 on highly weathered granitic soils upon a Bottelary Hills slope over looking Table Moutain - benefitting from cooling breezes off the icy Atlantic. A single barrel of 1982 bush vine fruit from a dry farmed site in Faure within earshot of False Bay was added to the blend, due to it being the last vintage from this site. Soils are a combination of decomposed granite & iron stone.
Soil Type
The soils are ancient decomposed granitic based soils with high portion of clay & iron stone /ferricrete.
Viticulture
Dry farmed bush vines - all hand harvested, pruning & shoot thinning.
Maturation
Wine is matured sur lie (with high portion of fine lees) for 9 months in 228L old French oak, whereafter the blended wine spent 4 months in stainless steel tank with fine lees prior to bottling unfined unfiltered.
