Secateurs Chenin Blanc

This Chenin Blanc is versatile and pairs well with a variety of dishes. It is an excellent companion to seafood such as oysters, grilled prawns, and pan-seared fish. It also works well with white meats like roast chicken, pork loin, or turkey, especially when paired with lemon or herb-based sauces. The wine’s acidity and texture make it suitable for rich, creamy pasta dishes, risotto, and spicy Asian cuisine. Soft cheeses, such as brie and goat cheese, are also good pairing options.

The grapes for this Chenin Blanc are sourced from dry-farmed bush vines in the Swartland, some of which are over 30 years old. These vines are well-suited to the region’s warm, dry climate, and are planted on granite-based soils, which provide excellent drainage and contribute to the wine's mineral character. The deep-rooted vines produce concentrated fruit with a natural balance of acidity and sugar. Sustainable farming practices are employed, focusing on minimal intervention to preserve the integrity of the vineyard ecosystem.

The Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2023 is aged for about 7-9 months on its lees in both concrete tanks and older oak barrels. This aging method contributes to the wine's complexity, offering a slight creaminess while maintaining its fresh and vibrant character. The use of older oak ensures that the wine retains its fruit purity and minerality.

After hand-harvesting, the Chenin Blanc grapes are whole-bunch pressed to extract the juice gently. Fermentation occurs with natural yeasts in a combination of concrete tanks and older oak barrels. This method preserves the wine’s freshness and enhances its complexity. The wine is aged on its lees for several months, with occasional stirring (batonnage) to increase texture and mouthfeel. This approach adds depth to the wine without overpowering its bright fruit flavors.

AA Badenhorst Family Wines are grown, made and matured on Kalmoesfontein farm in the Swartland appellation of South Africa. 28ha of old bushvines grow in the Siebritskloof part of the Paardeberg mountain. The property is owned by the baie dynamic and good looking cousins Hein and Adi Badenhorst. They are originally from Constantia. Their grandfather was the farm manager of Groot Constantia for 46 years. Their fathers were born there and farmed together in Constantia, during the days when people still ate fresh vegetables and Hanepoot grapes, drank Cinsault and there were a lot less traffic lights and hippies still had a presence. Together these two have restored a neglected cellar on the farm that was last used in the 1930′s to make natural wines in the traditional manner.