Rudera Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2005
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The Rudera range is small, and Teddy chose the varietals carefully, wanting to specialize and focus on just a few selections. Teddy wholeheartedly believes that both Chenin and Shiraz are the future of the South African wine industry, and feels that "South Africa can make wine that will be better, different, and more exciting than any in the world".
The name Rudera is plural for "broken stone" in Latin. As he believes that "Great wines are made out there in the dirt," Teddy felt that calling his range Rudera was the appropriate reference to terroir, as it is the foundation to create exceptional wines. He manages all the vineyards himself and gives the grapes individual vine attention to ensure optimum quality. Only the finest grapes are hand-selected and used for making wine. Teddy employs a "minimum manipulation" approach that lets the wine reach new levels through its own inherent quality.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.