Notes

This is a Noble Late Harvest made from 100% Chenin blanc.

The grapes were sourced from a 32-year-old unirrigated bush vine vineyard planted on gravelly soils with clay subsoil in Stellenbosch.

We do up to three pickings. Picking only bunches which are perfectly infected with Noble Rot. The grapes were picked at a sugar of around 44 brix and an acidity of 12 g/l.

The grapes were delivered to the winery and put directly into cold storage overnight to drop the temperature of the grapes down to around 4 degrees Celsius. The grapes were then hand sorted and loaded into a basket press where they were foot trodden to maximise extraction. After pressing the juice was settled and racked to barrel where fermentation took place naturally taking 3 months to complete. The fermentation stopped naturally at a perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and alcohol. Only 1100 bottles were produced.

Technical Analysis:

pH:  3.59
TA:  10.84 g/l
RS:  158 g/l
Alc:  11.0 % by vol.

Colour

The wine has a brilliant golden straw colour tending towards an amber hue.

Nose

This in an intense wine with complex aromas of dried apricot, peach and hints of ginger-spice and cinnamon. There are hints of roasted almonds and pine nuts.

Palate

This in an intense wine with complex aromas of dried apricot, peach and hints of ginger spice and cinnamon. There are hints of roasted almonds and pine nuts. The plate is rich and ripe with intense flavours which mirror the aromas on the nose. The beautiful thing about this wine is its balance which is perfectly poised between sweetness and freshness that linger on the finish.

Food Pairing

Fresh pan seared Foie Gars or Foie gras pate served on Crostini and herb salad; Or served with a dessert of crepes and a citrus syrup; Or ripe hard cheese and nuts.

Maturation

To be enjoyed immediately after release but will benefit with cellaring for up to 5 years from harvest.