Semillon

Try with richer fish and shellfish dishes and light meats like chicken and pork with an Asian accent.

The harvest for 2016 was the smallest in 5 years, due to the hot dry growing season that impacted the yields. From October to January we had heat wave upon heatwave, which brought on an earlier harvest, which forced the winemakers to visit the vineyards more regularly than previous years. Because of these intense heatwaves the winemaker had to pick earlier and had to juggle the right moment to pick with perfection. The vines' age ranges from 35 to 55 years old.

Aged in barrel for 10-14 months.

100% whole bunch pressing. Juice went straight to French oak barrels – all new to 3rd fill 500L – for natural fermentation. Because nature has already done the work, the winemaking process is kept as natural as possible with minimal interference. After natural fermentation began, wine is kept on the lees as long as possible because that’s where all the flavours are captured and where the ‘magic’ happens.

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.