Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc

After whole-bunch pressing, only the finest free-run juice is 100% barrel-fermented in French oak, using a combination of wild and cultured yeasts.

The pinnacle of all Alvi’s Drift Chenin Blanc wines, the grapes for our Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc hand-selected from our established, 25- to 48-year-old vineyards. Grapes from these vines, rooted in limestone banks and loamy sand soils, are harvested in the cool, early morning hours, then whole-bunch pressed to preserve their natural fruit flavours. This vintage saw cooler daytime temperatures than the previous season, with lower post-harvest rainfall. Cold units accumulated quickly in June but declined faster than usual. Early bud break and moderate spring conditions suggested an above-average crop. Hotter conditions in November and December required supplemental irrigation. A mid-December thunderstorm delivered 150 mm of rain, but the sudden spike resulted in runoff rather than subsoil absorption contributing to smaller berries and a lighter crop. Harvest began a week earlier than usual, with outstanding grape quality despite the reduced volumes. The season as a whole was hotter, with smaller berry sizes across all cultivars.

After fermentation, the wine was matured for a further 12 months in 100% French oak barrels and kept on lees to improve mouthfeel and complexity with regular bâtonnage applied. After maturation, wine from each barrel was individually tasted before blending.