Wildeberg Terroirs Chenin Blanc, Paarl 2022

Wildeberg Terroirs Chenin Blanc 2022
Paarl
This comes from dry-farmed 60-year old bush vines grown on the Smuts Block, rooted in the rocky, granite seam outcrops that surface rarely in the otherwise deep, sandy loams between Table Mountain and Paarl.

The grapes are hand-harvested and naturally fermented using indigenous yeasts at the farm at Wildeberg, then aged for 12 months in new and older French barrels.  There is a minimalistic approach to allow the site-specific energy of this fruit to shine.

Lemon/green in colour, this wine has an complex vinous nose, characteristic of old vines, with a whiff of straw and smoke.  This leads into a concentrated mouthful of textured blood orange and mango with with racy acidity and an underlying minerality.  South African Chenin at its best!