Chenin Blanc

Ideal with most fish, seafood, poultry and some vegetarian dishes.

2 blocks 36 & 38 year old bush vines in the Bottelary Hills. Deep gravelly Tukulu and Estcourt soil with 15 to 25% clay. Lightly irrigated at veraison. Yield 8 tons/ha. 1 block (Keermont) 15 year old vines on 6 wire vertical trellis. Deep red hutton soil with good moisture retention. Lightly irrigated at veraison. Yield 9 tons/ha. 1 block (Post House) 36 year old vines on a 7 wire trellis with moveable foliage wires. Lower slopes of the Helderberg, 8 km from the cooling influence of the sea. Gravelly Hutton and Escourt soil. Yield 4 tons/ha. Lightly irrigated at veraison. A late, but above average rainfall winter and spring ensured the soil profile was saturated contributing to a good growing season. Intermittent rain meant fungal disease pressure was quite high and we had to be on our toes with the spray programme. There were enough cold units for good even budbreak. A relatively cool growing season and ripening period meant ripening was slow and steady leading to one of the most exceptional vintages we’ve experienced. Good acidity and pHs. Harvest date: 11/2/21 - 2/3/21 @ 21 to 24,4 balling

All the wine was fermented and matured in 225ℓ, 400ℓ and 700ℓ casks for 8 months with lees stirred as necessary to complete fermentation. 10% new French oak used. Partial malolactic fermentation. Lightly fined with bentonite – a natural clay. Bottled unfiltered on the property by hand.

Grapes lightly crushed and allowed about 2 hours skin contact before gently pressing in a traditional basket press. Sulphur added and natural settling allowed for 2 days before. 100% Barrel fermentation with natural yeasts.

A small family winery at the end of the Upper Blaauwklippen Road in the mountains above Stellenbosch South Africa. Established in 1992 by architect David Trafford & artist wife Rita with the focus on high end red wines of great intensity & longevity using minimal intervention production methods.