Winemaker Notes
The Chenin blanc grapes were picked at 21 to 22 Balling. The grapes were whole bunch basket-pressed, allowing some air to partly oxidize the juice. The juice settled for a day, without adding any enzymes or sulphur, and then taken to old, 400L French oak barrels for natural fermentation and maturation. Some fine lees were added back to the juice in barrel to allow more complex characters to develop during it’s time in barrel.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2018 Chenin Blanc Verdelho comes from 39-year-old unirrigated bush vines from Swartland and Bot River. It has an expressive bouquet of wonderful, slightly petrolly, Germanic scents, perhaps demonstrating more intensity than the 2019. The palate is medium-bodied with a waxy-textured entry, and quite spicy, offering ginger and lemongrass. Very saline on the persistent 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.
A relatively cool, maritime climate area, Walker Bay includes three important wards: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. These sites benefit from the cooling ocean winds and are reputed for the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinotage.