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(Winner of the 2002 Chenin Blanc Wine Challenge)
VINEYARD BLOCKS
1 block ( Keerweder ) 29 year
old vines on a 4 wire trellis on neighbouring cool high altitude
SW slope. Deep red Hutton soil with good moisture retention.
Unirrigated. Yield 4 tons / hectare.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
The growing season was generally hot and dry with no disease
problems. The fourth hot, dry vintage in a row, but this was
thankfully a little cooler and the grapes responded with lots
of lovely fruit flavours and balanced ripeness. The grapes
were picked in the cool mornings @ 22.3 - 23.8 degrees balling.
Harvest date: 23 / 2 / 01 - 6 / 3 / 01
PRODUCTION
Grapes lightly crushed and allowed 3 hours skin contact before
gently pressing in a traditional basket press. Sulphur and
dry ice added and natural settling allowed for 2 days before
100 % barrel fermentation with natural
yeasts.
All the wine kept in 225 l casks for 8 months with lees stirred
1 - 2 times a month initially.
30 % new oak used - mostly American from local Radoux cooperage
and Demptos, Napa. Partial malolactic fermentation.
Bottled unfiltered on the property by hand with only a light
bentonite fining.
Bottling date : 31 / 10 / 01.
TASTING NOTES
The nose shows attractive mineral, honey, citrus and hay flavours
with well integrated spicy vanilla oak. This follows through
to the palate with a mouthwatering thread of acidity that
carries the complex fruit and oak flavours to a long, refreshingly
dry aftertaste.
This excellent food wine is particularly good with rich fish
and seafood dishes, various canapés or simply enjoy
on its own before a meal.
ANALYSIS
ALC. 13.6 SUGAR 1.6 TA 6.2
pH 3.40 VA 0.53 SO2 38 & 116
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