variety : Chenin Blanc [ 100% Chenin Blanc ]
winemaker : RJ Botha
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 13 % vol rs : 3.9 g/l pH : 3.33 ta : 6.6 g/l
type : White style : Dry body : Full taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle size : 750ml closure : Screwcap
in the vineyard : The grapes for this wine comes from selected “Bush Vine” vineyards in Stellenbosch. The average age of these vines are 35 years and are planted on predominantly decomposed granite soils. Owing to the nature of bush vines, careful canopy management was exercised so that no bunches were exposed to excessive sunlight and to ensure even ripening of the grapes. Following a cold, wet winter in 2025 that provided strong dormancy, and a warm, dry spring that accelerated budburst, flowering and ripening, the 2026 Chenin blanc was generally 10 to 14 days earlier than preceding vintages.
Despite a compact harvest window and some later rainfall pressure, the vintage produced healthy fruit with balanced sugars and acidity, smaller berries and good flavour concentration —an excellent combination for premium, site-expressive winemaking.
in the cellar : The grapes were immediately crushed into holding tanks. We gave extended (12hours) skin contact to extract maximum flavour from the thick Chenin blanc skins, thereby also ensuring excellent structure in the final wine. Only the free run juice was used and settled for 1 day before inoculation with selected slow-fermenting yeast strains.
The juice was racked into Frenck oak barrels for fermentation that typically lasts one to two months. No new barrels were used to ensure that the essence and purity of the Heritage Certified fruit take center stage. After fermentation the wine was aged on the primary lees for another 6 months before being racked out and prepared for bottling.