Chenin Blanc

The grapes were harvested at 23° Balling and picking was done in the early morning hours to ensure the grapes arrived cool at the cellar and pressed immediately. The free run and light press juice was separated from the rest. 60% Of the Chenin blanc was fermented in stainless steel tanks. After inoculation, the fermentation temperature was kept at around 12°C for 3 weeks. 40% of the Chenin blanc underwent barrel fermentation in 10% new, 30% 2nd fill, 40% 3rd fill and 20% 4th fill 400 litre French Oak barrels.

Grapes come from a selected low-yielding vineyard block located on a Swartland farm. Soils are deep red Oakleaf and Hutton which has above average water holding capacity. These soils help to add depth, structure and fullness to the wines. Vines benet from the cooling sea breezes from the Benguela current. The 2022 growing season will be remembered by how late everything happened. Bud break was between 2 and 3 weeks later than the norm, which then in effect led to the harvest to also start 2 weeks later. Late winter rain was necessary to keep the Swartland water table topped up before the growing season. A relative cool and dry growing season followed, which led to producing elegant wines with great phenolic maturity.

The wine was matured in barrel for 8 months before being blended and bottled.