Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.47%
Residual Sugar 3.3 g/L
pH 3.28
Total Acidity 5.8 g/L
Calories (estimated) 115 kcal / glass
150ml glass115 kcal
750ml bottle575 kcal
Grape Varieties Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc100%
Region Klein Karoo
Soil Decomposed shale soils
Orientation Easterly
Harvest Dates February
Fermentation Vessels Oak Foudre
Natural Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 200-L French Oak Foudré
Unfined Yes
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details The grapes are hand harvested into crates from early to mid February and trucked to the cellar. The crates are packed into a cold room overnight. The next morning the bunches are destemmed and the berries crushed into tank. The juice is left on the skins until the afternoon before being separated and pumped into one 200-L French oak foudre. Fermentation starts spontaneously after a couple of days and proceeds naturally. After fermentation the wine is racked off the gross lees and pumped back into the foudre for 10 months on its fine lees. Before bottling the wine is racked from its lees and bottled from the barrel. The wine is made in its most natural form, unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Notes
Nose: tropical fruit, white pear, apricot, butterscotch, lime, vanilla oak
Palate: tropical fruit, lime, flinty minerality, fresh acidity, vanilla oak tannins, smooth silky finish
Food Pairing braai'd chicken, pork fillet, pasta Alfredo, pan fried yellow tail
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin 2020 SA Report: 93 points
Tim Atkin 2020 SA Report93 points
Tim Atkin 2021 SA Report94 points
Tim Atkin 2022 SA Report91 points
Tim Atkin 2023 SA Report91 points
Platter 2022, 2023, 2024 Wine Guide4.5 stars
EnosTop 15 SA White Wines
WineMag94 rating 2019
Der FeinschmeckerTop 5 SA Chenin Blanc
Vinum MagazineTop 3 SA Chenin Blanc
Wine MagTop 15 S.A. Chenins 2022
▸ Sources (1)
Producer Information
Website
Address
Swellendam Local Municipality, South Africa
Email
Owner
Louis Le Sueur van der Riet
Cellarmaster
Louis Le Sueur van der Riet