Old Vines Soutbos

Shellfish, Spicy food, Lean fish, Mild and soft cheese

A cool season and moderate weather conditions in most regions during harvest time slowed down ripening, which gave vines the opportunity to develop stunning flavour and colour. Harvest time was delayed by 10 to 14 days this year. The 2022 wine crop is more than 5% less than the 2021 season, but still larger than the five-year average. Early cultivars were harvested at good flavour and sugar concentrations, with lower acidity and higher pH. Later cultivars benefited from dry, moderate temperatures during ripening, which led to full ripening at good sugar and alcohol levels. As there is no mountains or hills in that area, a salty air blows in from the ocean - roughly 35km away – during the evenings. This creates a fogginess that lingers during the night and when the sun rises the next morning, a Kelpy seaspray is left behind and eventually is dried by the hot sun on the vines. This results in the salinity that can be tasted.

The soil is 100% sand and with that comes the opportunity to make use of flood-irrigation whereas the whole vineyard gets flooded, allowing the water to filter down through the sand into the deep roots of the vine. Picked in small crates, from the truck and straight into whole-bunch pressing. Natural fermentation started after about 3 days. Thereafter wine was kept on the lees for as long as possible, because that is where the “magic” happens as complex flavours and texture develops. Because nature has already done the work, the winemaking process is kept as natural as possible with minimal interference.

Naudé Wines is the culmination of a journey that began more than 30 years ago. Since that first harvest I’ve worked all over the world hoping to craft wines that tell a story of time and place. I love the diversity we have in South Africa. Not just of the people but the soils the microclimates and the wine varietals that thrive under their own unique conditions. I’m fortunate to have been introduced to a few of these vineyards and work with some of the wonderful grapes that they produce many of these from certified old vines. The grapes on these vines are storied complex and unique. Each year they represent something different – whatever nature allows them – and with any luck I don’t get in the way.