2021 HEMELRAND VINE GARDEN, Alheit. Hemel & Aaarde. S. Africa

Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Roussanne, Verdelho and a tiny bit of Muscat. Matured in old oak barrels, on the lees, for a year

The talented and much revered Chris and Suzanne Alheit concentrates on Chenin Blanc (or Chenin blends) from exceptional sights. This wine comes from close to their winery, in the vally above Hermanus (the larger region is called Walker Bay, South Africa’s original cool climate area). They elaborate:
“It’s situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360 meters above sea level on gravelly clay and sandstone. Viticulturally speaking this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity. Hemelrand is meticulously farmed by Hans Evenhuis and his team, hence the name Vine Garden.
The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, and Muscat Blanc a petit grain – one place expressed by a few different grapes. The proportions of the different grapes produced varies each vintage. The idea is to bottle the wine just as the vineyard produces it, effectively creating a white field blend that changes every year as the season dictates.”

Just a couple of bottles left in stock….

“Herbal and floral notes on the nose. Edgy acidity and some wild-flower notes, almost like the signature of a biodynamic wine. Maybe not quite as persistent as some of its stablemates but very good. And already accessible..” 17/20, Jancis Robinson MW on JancisRobinson.Com