variety : Chenin Blanc [ 100% Chenin Blanc ]
winemaker : Johan Joubert
wine of origin : Polkadraai Hills
analysis : alc : 13.5 % vol rs : 2.8 g/l pH : 3.46 ta : 6.4 g/l
type : White style : Dry body : Full taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Screwcap
in the vineyard : This single block Chenin Blanc is 1.9 hectares in size and located 200m above sea level, being just over 15 km from False Bay, it enjoys the influence of a cooling sea breeze effect, which means longer ripening and hanging times. The vines age of 20 + years means that they have attuned themselves to the terroir, have developed a complex root systems that is capable of extracting nutrients from the relatively poor decomposed granite soils. The yields are relatively low, the berry size quite small and the bunches, fairly loose, making for good concentration and intensity of flavour. Viticulture is aimed at achieving full phenolic ripeness without sacrificing freshness and fruit purity, the grapes are hung on the vines for somewhat longer than usual.
in the cellar : Grapes are picked into small crates with quality always paramount. After destemming and pressing, it settles for three days, after which 50% is fermented in 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels and the other 50% in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation the barrels are batonnaged once a week. The juice from the tank brings freshness to the wine and the juice from the barrels adds to the creaminess, complexity and depth of the wine.