Chenin Blanc Vintage – BALANCE – 2023 – 12.5%

WINE DESCRIPTION
This medium bodied wine shows a beautiful melange of citrus
and pear flavours complimented by hints of guava and passion
fruit.
VINEYARDS
The vineyards are found in a variation in meso-climates,
exposed hills, and sheltered valleys, with soils from Granite,
Sandstone soils and Alluvial soils. Grapes are picked from a
selection of these dierent wards in the Western Cape.
WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES
Cold skin maceration was carried out for six hours before the
free run juice was left to ferment in stainless steel tanks for
three weeks at 12°C. The wine was left on the gross lees where
batonnage was applied for a week. It was then racked and left
on the fine lees till right before bottling.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
In the months leading to the 2023 harvest, the Cape winelands
had a below average winter rainfall. The lower rainfall combined
with cooler summer conditions from November caused the
grape bunches to have smaller berries with concentrated sugar
levels, tannin concentration and more elevated phenolic
compounds. Phenolic compounds are natural chemicals found
in plants, including fruits and vegetables. They have antioxidant
properties and can provide health benefits. In wine, they aect
the taste, colour, and mouthfeel.
During late February we had heavy rainfall, which gave some
relieve to our vineyards where we do not use irrigation. The
2023 vintage can be remembered as a vintage that led to
exiting and complex wines.