Mason Road Chenin Blanc

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

The 2022 vintage will be remembered as a cool season before harvest, followed by a sudden temperature spike from January. Good vineyard practices were followed, and canopies were managed well, which delivered exceptional grape analyses and wine quality. Temperatures rose sharply during early January and accelerated the early cultivars’ ripening dates, although we harvested more than a week later than the previous year. Frequent high temperatures during February further contributed to harvest dates shifting sooner and harvesting returned to normal timing by the end of February. We were fortunate not to experience any crop losses or mildew infections.

The final blend was made up after 11 months of ageing on the lees, followed by a light filtration before bottling.

The 1993 block of Chenin Blanc was picked in four batches at different degrees of ripeness. Pre-cooled fruit was destemmed and crushed. Light pressing took place and free run juice was settled overnight. Fermentation occurred in a combination of stainless steel tanks (85%) and old French oak barrels (15%) using an inoculated yeast strain. The barrels were racked and blended with the tank-fermented portion and then bottled.

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.