Winemaker Notes
The Chenin comes from parcels in the Skurfberg, Perdeberg, Bottelary, and False Bay. The Semillon comes from the old La Colline block in Franschhoek.The nose shows lemon peel, fennel, spearmint, ripe apple and pear, perhaps a touch of honey. The palate is very vibrant and fine, with ample texture and weight. The finish is long and refreshing.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2018 Cartology, a blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Sémillon this year, is whole-cluster-pressed with no SO2 addition, and matured in used oak. It has a well defined, pure bouquet of dried honey, yellow flower, honeysuckle and lanolin aromas that instantly seduce the senses. The palate is beautifully balanced with a slightly oily-textured opening, the intensity deftly counterbalanced by the fine bead of acidity, and a discreet spiciness toward the finish.
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Wine Spectator
Combining elegance with power, this stunning white opens with a note of rich lemon cream before flavors of peach and pine take over, with hints of bittersweet almond around the edges. The texture is alluring, almost velvety, but has a bit of grip, adding to the structure. A long savory mineral streak marks the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This year, Chris Alheit had a delightful little surprise in store for me with a vertical of Cartology from 2022 to 2018. Notably, the shyest of the vertical, the 2018 Cartology Bush Vines is still tight with a subdued nutty essence and dusty citrus blossom aromas. Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is clean, complex and more expressive than the nose leads you to believe before showcasing an excellent mineral tension.
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Sémillon, this just screams Chenin from the glass, thanks to notes of waxed melon rind, crisp pear slices, lightly toasted apple and pressed yellow flowers. The medium-weight palate feels round and filling on entry, but is then picked up after the sip thanks to focused acidity and a light astringent texture that lends length to the finish.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
With an important wine renaissance in full swing, impressive red and white bargains abound in South Africa. The country has a particularly long and rich history with winemaking, especially considering its status as part of the “New World.” In the mid-17th century, the lusciously sweet dessert wines of Constantia were highly prized by the European aristocracy. Since then, the South African wine industry has experienced some setbacks due to the phylloxera infestation of the late 1800s and political difficulties throughout the following century.
Today, however, South Africa is increasingly responsible for high-demand, high-quality wines—a blessing to put the country back on the international wine map. Wine production is mainly situated around Cape Town, where the climate is generally warm to hot. But the Benguela Current from Antarctica provides brisk ocean breezes necessary for steady ripening of grapes. Similarly, cooler, high-elevation vineyard sites throughout South Africa offer similar, favorable growing conditions.
South Africa’s wine zones are divided into region, then smaller districts and finally wards, but the country’s wine styles are differentiated more by grape variety than by region. Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is the country’s “signature” grape, responsible for red-fruit-driven, spicy, earthy reds. When Pinotage is blended with other red varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Pinot Noir (all commonly vinified alone as well), it is often labeled as a “Cape Blend.” Chenin Blanc (locally known as “Steen”) dominates white wine production, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc following close behind.