Chenin Blanc Reserve

Sushi, shellfish, salads, Chinese cuisine, chicken dishes with a creamy sauce.

The grapes are sourced from a single block of Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1985 at Brookdale Estate in Paarl, South Africa. The vineyard is situated on decomposed shale and granite soils, contributing to the wine's mineral character. The 2023 growing season featured a dry and warmer winter, good vegetative growth, beneficial rainfall before véraison, and a cool, wet ripening period, allowing for optimal grape development.

Matured for 11 months in 500L French oak barrels, followed by 11 months on the lees in 2000L Austrian oak foudres, and an additional 4 months in bottle before release.

Grapes were hand-picked at eight different stages to achieve optimal ripeness and balance. The fruit was pre-cooled and gently whole-bunch pressed before undergoing spontaneous fermentation and 100% malolactic fermentation to enhance elegance and complexity. The wine was matured for 11 months in 500L French oak barrels, followed by 11 months on the lees in 2000L Austrian oak foudres. After bottling, it was aged for an additional four months before release.

Brookdale Estate is a Paarl wine estate set beneath the Klein Drakenstein Mountains, with a strong focus on sustainability, biodiversity and thoughtful vineyard development. Working with a diverse mix of varieties across its 27 hectares of vines, Brookdale produces distinctive South African wines shaped by site, experimentation and a considered approach to the land.