variety : Chenin Blanc [ 30% Chenin Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Viognier, 5% Gewurztraminer, 5% Weisser Riesling ]
winemaker : De Wet Viljoen
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 13.51 % vol rs : 1.90 g/l pH : 3.45 ta : 5.60 g/l va : 0.36 g/l
type : White wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Screwcap
in the vineyard : Background
The Neethlingshof estate in Stellenbosch, owned equally by Distell and LUSAN, takes its name from its one-time 19th century owner, Marthinus Laurentius Neethling, who served
as mayor of Stellenbosch and was also a member of the old Cape Parliament.
Neethlingshof’s reserve tier, formerly Lord Neethling, has been renamed The Short Story Collection. Drawing attention to the winery’s rich and varied narratives, the three-limited
edition wines in the collection each focus on a specific aspect of the estate’s philosophy or history. They are made exclusively from hand-picked grapes.
The vineyards
Planted in 2008, the Chenin Blanc vineyard block comprises 3.46 ha. The vines grow in Tukulu and Oakleaf soils, 100 m above sea level on south-westerly and north-easterly facing
slopes. Planted in 1999, the Chardonnay vines are established in Tukulu soils, 105 m above sea level on southerly slopes. The south-facing, 3,97ha Sauvignon Blanc vineyard was established in 1997, with vines grafted onto Richter 110 rootstock. This vineyard is situated between 120 m and 180 m above sea level. The Viognier vineyard was planted in 2006 and grows in shale soils. The trellised Gewürztraminer vines, 16 years old at the time of picking and grafted onto Richter 99 rootstocks, are established in deep red Tukulu soils on the southern slopes facing False Bay. The Weisser Riesling grapes came for the estate’s Weisser on The Hill vineyard.
Vineyard management practices such as correct pruning and suckering methods were applied. Harvest quantities were closely controlled to guarantee an optimum vineyard
balance. Moisture measurements were monitored to ensure supplementary irrigation was applied only when necessary.