2025 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.96%
Residual Sugar 1.8 g/L
pH 3.36
Total Acidity 6.93 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc63%
Chardonnay20%
Semillon17%
Region Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Soil Table mountain sandstone derived soil
Vineyard Yield 15.6 hL/ha
Fermentation Vessels Terracotta Amphora, Neutral Oak Barrel, Nomblot Egg, Ceramic Egg
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Total Aging 6 months
Production Details After the challenges of the 2024 vintage, 2025 felt perfect. Although yields were very low, as is usual for us, bud break was even and complete following excellent cold units in July and August. The canopies were particularly healthy and there was no disease pressure to speak of. Harvest was relatively compressed, beginning in the 1st week of February as usual, and finishing on February 19th. Rainfall was in line with our long-term average and usefully lower in the month of harvest. Our grapes ripened perfectly with bright acidity and deep fruit flavours. Average maximum temperatures for Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, were a touch warmer than our long-term average at 25.35 Centigrade. The resulting wines have a particular purity of fruit and depth without any excess. We consider 2025 to be one of the best our 45 vintages to date. This is an innovative white blend that captures the most beautiful possible expression of the sandstone-derived soils in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Free by design of excessively dramatic varietal fruit, the focus of the wine is on bright, hard minerality, salinity and vibrant natural acidity, coated by a full and gentle viscosity derived from a unique endemic yeast and the method of vinification, not from high alcohol. Nearly three decades of family experience have gone into this blend.
2024 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 12.85%
Residual Sugar 2.6 g/L
pH 3.48
Total Acidity 6.8 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc66%
Semillon18%
Chardonnay16%
Region Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Soil Table mountain sandstone derived soil
Vineyard Yield 10.2 hL/ha
Fermentation Vessels Terracotta Amphora, Neutral Oak Barrel, Nomblot Egg, Ceramic Egg
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Total Aging 6 months
Production Details Budding was earlier and more even than for the 2023 vintage, but the Cape Storm of September 24th/25th caused damage which resulted in significantly lower yields. In general, Sauvignon blanc handled the challenges of the growing season well versus other varieties, where high rainfall and untimely rainfall created significant disease pressure. At 25.05 centigrade for the average maximum temperatures for the 4 “hottest” months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) building up to and during harvest, 2024 was warmer than the particularly cool 2023. Burgundy, for example, for the equivalent period in the Northern Hemisphere has an average of 24.66 centigrade. Harvest finished earlier than 2023 with ripening more variable, requiring careful selection. Our Sauvignon blanc acids were wonderfully high at harvest, although in some parcels the pH was a little higher than 2023. The wines produced have beautiful texture and electricity. There was just not enough of them. This is an innovative white blend that captures the most beautiful possible expression of the sandstone-derived soils in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Free by design of excessively dramatic varietal fruit, the focus of the wine is on bright, hard minerality, salinity and vibrant natural acidity, coated by a full and gentle viscosity derived from a unique endemic yeast and the method of vinification, not from high alcohol. Nearly three decades of family experience have gone into this blend.
2022 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.3%
Residual Sugar 1.9 g/L
pH 3.27
Total Acidity 6.7 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc51%
Semillon25%
Chardonnay24%
Region Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Soil Table mountain sandstone derived soil
Vineyard Yield 17.5 hL/ha
Sites Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 100%
Fermentation Vessels Terracotta Amphora, Nomblot Egg, Ceramic Egg, Neutral Oak Barrel
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Total Aging 5 months
Production Details Fermentation and maturation: Sauvignon blanc in Terracotta Amphora, Nomblot Egg and Ceramic Egg, Semillon in neutral oak barrels, Chardonnay in Terracotta Amphora and neutral oak barrels - for 5 months.
Tasting Notes
Nose: bright, hard minerality, salinity, vibrant natural acidity
Palate: full, gentle viscosity
2021 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.45%
Residual Sugar 1.9 g/L
pH 3.29
Total Acidity 6.52 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc58%
Chardonnay26%
Semillon16%
Region Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Soil Table mountain sandstone derived soil
Vineyard Yield 18.27 hL/ha
Fermentation Vessels Terracotta Amphora, Nomblot Egg, Ceramic Egg, Neutral Oak Barrel
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Total Aging 5 months
Production Details This stellar vintage was later and cooler than usual. Based on our measure of temperature, the average of the maximum temperatures for the 4 hottest months (crucial to harvest) Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, 2021 came in at 24.3 Centigrade. This compares to 24.8 Centigrade for a long-term average of the equivalent period in Burgundy. In the last 25 years, only 2001, 2004 and 2008 have been cooler. Winter was wetter than usual with 140mm more rain than average, filling dams and building the water table beautifully. Chill units started accumulating later than usual and a cool Spring and later budding accounted for the later harvest. A warm January was a welcome help towards healthy ripening. Any disease pressure from rain showers during ripening was effectively controlled. Yields, as always for us, were low. The Pinot noir harvest finished 10 days later than 2020, and the Chardonnay harvest finished 8 days later. Fruit quality and acidity were exceptional for both. The 2021 wines stand out for their complex, layered elegance, purity and mineral liveliness.
Tasting Notes
Nose: bright, hard minerality, salinity, vibrant natural acidity
Palate: full, gentle viscosity
Shop prices
| Reference | Vintage / size | Price / bottle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine-SearcherLWIN 1886746 | — | — | wine-searcher.com ↗ |
Producer Information
Website
Address
R320 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa
Phone
+27 28 312 3595
Owner
Anthony Hamilton Russell
Cellarmaster
Emul Ross, Johan Montgomery