Range: Terroir Range
Cultivar(s): Chenin (68%), Chardonnay (22%), Viognier (10%
Origin: Stellenbosch
Alc; 13.5% [RS: 2.07 g/l, TA: 6.83 g/l, pH: 3.22
Tasting notes
A wooded Chenin Blanc based Cape Blend with Chardonnay and Viognier. Extra ordinary complexity with lively layered summer
fruits highlighting quince, citrus and fresh peach. A pure mineral foundation with stone fruit aromas, integrated with the French oak
giving the wine a lengthy vibrant fresh finish. The attractive palestraw colour is a result of the everlasting healthy pH balance
of the wine. Grapes from small pockets of only the best vineyards where the fruit was hand selected for this nimble blend. The
grapes are planted on a mix of higher altitude Granite and Duplex soils, contributing to the excellent fruit purity, mineral depth and
complexity of the blend. These sites were chosen for their unique expression of fruit made possible by the difference in the soils and
varying angles to the sun which help fruit with a natural high.
Vineyard Facts
The Chenin Blanc vineyard, planted on decomposed Granite soils, reach early physiological ripeness, leaving only the smallest
bunches to be handpicked. The Chardonnay and Viognier grapes ripened on Duplex-soils and through careful vineyard
management lower than average yield were crafted. Only the best sun ripe grapes in the canopy, with pip and skin ripeness were
handpicked early in the morning into small crates and brought to the cellar.
Winemaking
The Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier were crushed separately and left on the skins between 6 to 24 hours, to extract more
intense fruit and build structure. Only the purest free-run juice is fermented cold with selected yeast and left on the lees for 9 months
before blending. The Chenin Blanc (which makes up 68% of the blend) 50% is aged in first and second fill French oak barrels. The
balance of the Chenin Blanc is aged in clay Amphora and Concrete Eggs to give the blend a wonderful restrained mineral stone fruit
purity and fresh lengthy acidity. The Viognier component matured in 3rd and 4th barrels for 11 months before blending with the
Chenin Blanc components and unwooded Chardonnay. Under the watchful eye of our Cellar Master these blends were crafted and
left for another three months on the lees