The Dryland Collection Courageous Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc

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The grapes were de-stemmed, whereafter skin contact followed for two hours. Great care was taken to ensure clear, free-run juice is extracted before fermentation, as it infuses the pure, concentrated fruitiness of the dry land grapes into the wine. The wine was kept on the lees until bottling, with no lees stirring. No malolactic fermentation took place to keep the natural Chenin Blanc acidity.

The 2024 harvest started two weeks earlier than the previous year. However, unforeseen winds during late November and early December resulted in a reduced yield. Despite this, the anticipated quality remains exceptional. Elevated temperatures in early February necessitated an early grape harvest by the team.

Wood maturation: 11 months in French oak barrels. 80% in second-fill & third-fill barrels, and 20% in new French oak barrels. Bottle maturation: Six months.