Old Vine Chenin Blanc

Gruyère salad with grilled nectarines, buttery West Coast sole, Peking duck or roasted root vegetables.

From Welville farm near Bonnievale in the Breede River Valley. Blocks A and B were planted in 1992 with SN 424 Chenin Blanc, at 130 m altitude on a northeast-facing site with decomposed shale over clay-loam soils. Grapes were hand-harvested early in the morning; vineyard yield was 7 tonnes/ha.

12 months on thick lees in first- and second-fill 225 L barrels, with monthly bâtonnage.

Hand-harvested grapes were pressed immediately without enzymes. The juice settled for 48 hours before cloudy juice was transferred to two 225 L barrels. Wild fermentation at 16–18°C lasted 14 days, followed by monthly bâtonnage during lees maturation.

Gabriel & Gysbert, by winemaker Pieter Rossouw, speaks of heritage and exceptional terroir. Named in honour of his grandfathers, the fruit for this range hails from the family farm located in the age-old winelands of Bonnievale. The vineyards are uniquely situated at the foot of the Stormsvlei mountain range as it descends down into the Swellendam basin. Here, afternoon maritime winds offer respite during the hot summer ripening months. The soils are made up of a combination of Bokkeveld Shale with components of quartz rich sandstone weaved into the landscape. The shale sediments are from marine origin with a high amount of mineral deposits. Fruit handling is kept to an absolute minimum and juice is wild fermented, with minimum interference, resulting in a range that truly showcases the unique climate of Bonnievale