Chenin Blanc/Other Blends

Small parcels of selected fruit is sourced from various vineyards on the Badenhorst farm called Kalmoesfontein located in the Swartland area and the greater Paardeberg mountains.  This wine is made up of a fantastic blend of Chenin Blanc;  Roussanne; Marsanne; Grenache Blanc; Viognier; Verdehlo; Colombard; GrenacheGris; Clairette Blanche and Palomino.   The vinification is quite straight forward when you are working with fantastic grapes from old vineyards – wholebunch pressing of cool grapes, this juice is then transferred to very old casks for fermentation and maturation.  Some varieties are blended at a very...

Adi Badenhorst one of the more righteous producers of South Africa with a strong currency in the reinvention of boutique wines there, and further. Here’s chenin from the beating heart (or edges) of Swartland region. Organic, natural winemaking.   ‘This wine spent time on its lees in concrete tanks and old casks, which gives incredible texture and palate weight to the wine. The aromas are flinty with honey, orange blossom, and white stone fruit notes. The vintage was characterized by a long ripening period in mild conditions and has the effect of good ripe flavors and fresher acidity than in previous years.’ –...

Tim Atkin MW 96 points. This Semillon is made from Certified Heritage Vineyards, which count amongst the oldest in South Africa. These Franschhoek Semillon vineyards have acclimated to the harsh conditions and alluvial soils in which they grow, producing unique wines with intense depth and complexity. These old vineyards’ deep root systems and high skin-to-pulp ratio produce intensely complex, well-structured wines with unbelievable ageing potential. Two of the vineyards used for the Semillon, planted in 1902 and 1942, are unirrigated bush vines, growing on little to no slope in the ancient Franschhoek Riverbed. These vineyards are...

'Arrival 25 May or earlier This wine, incorporating grapes from seven separate vineyards on various soils with planting dates ranging from 1968 to 1985, just gets more and more refined. The nose shows pear, peach and citrus to go with potpourri and a touch of flinty reduction. The palate, meanwhile, is pure and concentrated with lively acidity and a saline finish. Each component part combining seamlessly, the end-result is a wine of particular poise and luminosity.' – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100. #NEWSA

‘Grapes from various old-vine sites. Some reduction before peach, citrus and hay. Good depth of fruit and well-integrated acidity – as with many examples of Swartland Chenin from this vintage, this wine is textured and substantial even at low alcohol, 12.5% in this instance. Not overtly expressive but still layered.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100.  

47% Chenin Blanc, 11% Semillon, 9% Verdelho, 7% Clairette Blanche, 7% Roussanne, 6% Grenache Blanc, 6% Marsanne, 5% Colombar and 2% Viognier. Subtle and elusive aromatics of pear, peach, citrus, hay and flowers while the palate has great fruit expression and bright acidity, the finish lightly grippy. Taut and detailed, a wine of finesse if not quite the same intensity as the previous vintage. Alc: 12.5%” –  CE 95/100. Winemag. ‘The 2022 Aristargos is immensely complex, fresh and exciting. It comes from different soil types that express a refined mineral essence with pomaceous and yellow citrus notes in this wine....

Tim Atkin 96 points. A wine of incredible density and precision. A hint of yellow suggests sun ripened berries, with a bright green hue promising freshness. Aromas of lime blossom, white peach, caramel and brioche are followed by a poised palate with an extremely concentrated core. This is a great wine that will reward decades of cellaring. A true statement of DeMorgenzon’s dedication to excellence. Very limited production.   VINIFICATION AND MATURATION The grapes were picked in two different passes from a particular part of the old vineyard. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the...

Tim Atkin 91 points. Honey, white peach and hints of pineapple are complemented by savory notes of roasted almond and toasted brioche. A fine mousse and refreshing acidity provides a remarkably refreshing drinking experience. Chenin Blanc grapes are handpicked and harvested for freshness and acidity at between 19.5o and 20.5o Balling. Grapes are pre-cooled and then whole bunch-pressed with the juice allowed to settle naturally. Half of the wine is naturally fermented in stainless steel tank, with fermentation being stopped to retain a certain percentage of the grapes own sugar. The barrel fermented portion is allowed to ferment naturally to...

Top Ten Chenin, Winemag. The bright nose displays fine Chenin attributes of floral and citrus aromas. The crisp, refreshing palate has succulence and weight providing a finish with texture and good length. Sourced exclusively from DeMorgenzon’s own Chenin Blanc vineyards. Southerly and South-Easterly aspect vines overlooking False Bay are managed for optimal exposure to gentle morning sunshine. Granitic soils result in grapes with excellent natural acidity and flavour concentration, a trait further enhanced by our intentionally low yields. Cool, early morning harvested grapes were destemmed, crushed, then pressed and the juice settled...

Tim Atkin 94 points. This show stopping white displays effusive aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into opulent flavours of pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It’s a world class wine offering that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouth-watering acidity.   DeMorgenzon’s Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines planted in 1972, which were originally planted as bush vines but recently lifted onto trellises. The vines are planted in decomposed granite soils, at altitudes of 250 to 300 meters above sea level. Close proximity to False Bay ensures cooling breezes in the...

Tim Atkin 93 points. The nose shows notes of concentrated orange and yellow stone fruits, with a hint of spice, citrus and blossoms. The palate is full-bodied, textured and nuanced with a lingering after taste. Cellar Master Carl van der Merwe Varietal blend 57% Roussanne 14% Chenin Blanc 10% Grenache Blanc 9% Marsanne 8% Viognier 2% Chardonnay      

Christian Eedes, Winemag “ Grapes from a 1957 vineyard planted on the Helderberg – the wine named for the tiny bunches that these bushvines yield. Fermented and matured for 10 months in older barrels and terracotta. Pear, peach, citrus, fynbos, straw and talcum powder on the nose while the palate has great fruit delineation and zippy acidity. Substantial yet balanced and not short of energy. Real presence thanks in part to a residual sugar of 4.5g/l.  96/100 “.   Chris Williams of The Foundry has just released the newest super-premium wines from Stellenbosch WO: GEOGRAPHICA. Having spent many years as...

85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Roussanne. Our vineyard team use pliers to pinch the stem of the bunches while they ripen on the vine, this pinching action stops the translocation of fluids from the vine to the grapes. This allows the fruit to dry naturally or desiccate on the vine, during the warm Summer. We do this pinching process when the grapes are at optimal ripeness in order to concentrate the juice, with the perfect balance of sugar and acidity. The raisins are harvested a few weeks later and the syrupy juice is squeezed from them with a hard pressing process. The grape syrup is slowly fermented by indigenous yeast in Hungarian and French...

Tim Atkin MW 94 points. (1 665 bottles produced) Planted in 1971, Riverside Chenin Blanc is the oldest vineyard on Keermont, it delivers very low yields (1 ton per hectare) of incredible quality fruit year in and year out. Like the old vines it comes from, this wine has great complexity with quiet intensity. Member of the Old Vine Project. “Lovely faint lime hue. The aromas are fresh with delicate floral notes of lily and salted cashew and a soft indication of oak. Classic old vine Chenin Blanc. Floral notes give way to youthful fruit aromas of mandarin zest and fresh white pear. Fruit is lightly seasoned with toasted ssame and...

Terrasse is a seamless, skilfully blended cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 54% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne. Barrel-fermented and aged in older oak, it's floral, spicy and intense, marrying citrus, pear and clementine flavours and a touch of tannic grip. 2023-28. Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com (September 2023)  93/100.

"This 2022 Rotsbank bottling displays flinty, almost crushed eggshell aromas with grapefruit and more tropical aspects once the initial minerality of the site gave way in the aromas. The wine is incredibly concentrated on the aromatics; the same concentration follows through on the palate. The tannins have massive tension, and the wine’s substantial acidity and dry finish suggest a wine that will only benefit much from time in the bottle. This very restrained and firm wine will pair exceptionally well with shellfish." Wine Magazine

"From a Swartland vineyard co-planted to Chenin Blanc and Palamino. Matured for 12 months in acacia and oak foudres. Top notes of hay and potpourri before pear and peach. Dense fruit matched by a good line of acidity, the finish pithy. Direct and surprisingly forceful – alcohol is 13.4%" Wine Magazine  

From Citrusdal Mountain Chenin Blanc. Matured for 12 months in big-format oak casks. Citrus and peach plus hints of potpourri and hay on the nose. The palate is dense with punchy acidity and a savoury finish. Alcohol is lower than usual at 13.08% and the wine currently comes across as a little incomplete and lacking in detail – time in bottle will be revealing. Wine Magazine

"From a Swartland field blend of Chenin Blanc, Palomino, Semillon Blanc and Gris. Matured for 12 months in acacia and oak foudres. Haunting aromatics of pear, peach, citrus, flowers, hay and earth. The palate has lovely fruit purity but equally is not short of weight and texture, the finish possessing a slight but not unpleasant bitterness. Great focus and drive. Alc: 13.34%. "   Wine Magazine 98/100  

VITICULTURE These grapes are sourced from our neighbour’s vineyard at The Foundry’s home farm in Voor Paardeberg, and managed by Chris Williams. Grown on Malmesbury shale and decomposed granite, these trellised vines allow us to precisely manage the canopy to enhance fruit, complexity and balance. VINIFICATION Hand harvested and cooled overnight, this was whole-bunch pressed to restrain phenolics, yet was fermented with a high percentage of solids to give breadth and definition to the palate. 55% was fermented in seasoned tight-grain French oak Allier and Compiègne hogsheads and 45% of the wine in 500 and 1000...