Brookdale Chenin Blanc Old Vine
R400
Per Bottle
 The 2023 season will be remembered for the dry and warmer winter; generally good growing conditions during the vegetative growth phase, good rain shortly before véraison which benefitted quality, and a cool and wet ripening period which gave grapes a chance to ripen optimally at a slower rate. Cooler conditions slowed the ripening of grapes, but the harvest commenced at the usual time in early February. Excellent flavour, as well as colour profiles, were observed.Â
In stock
Door to door in South Africa. Estimated 5 - 10 working days.
THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS
What customers & critics are saying
“The 2022 vintage was very hot in Paarl, hitting 46° in February, but there’s no sign of that on this old-vine Chenin Blanc from a 1.8-hectare parcel planted in 1985. Rich, dry and well structured, it has subtle nutmeg, thatch and vanilla top notes, flavours of pear and yellow apple, scented 15% new wood and a mineral core.”
Tim Atkin MW
94 Points
TASTING NOTES
The scent of gold; earthy, mineral yet charged with sun. Powerful, complex aromatics unwind; ripe citrus, fresh honey, orchard apples and pears, all pour forth with bay-leaf, lemon-buchu highlights. Underpinning this, roasted nuts, a line of cream. A concentrated yet fresh core of apple, pear, lime, is wrapped in silky ribbons of golden citrus tapering nutty and honeyed to the edges. The long line of liquid minerality weaves right through for a stony, vibrant finish, echoing with citrus.Â
WINEMAKING
From old vine Chenin Blanc (1985) grown on decomposed shale and granite; minimal winemaking was employed to allow this stony terroir to shine through. The grapes were hand-picked at 8 different stages to achieve optimal ripeness and balance. The fruit was pre-cooled and gently whole-bunch pressed before spontaneous fermentation and 100% malolactic fermentation for added elegance, and complexity. Matured for 11 months in 500L French oak barrels, the wine was then aged on the lees for eleven months in 2000L Stockinger (Austrian Oak) foudres. Once bottled, the wine was left to mature for a further four months before release.
