Nicolas van der Merwe Chenin Blanc 2018

Grapes were grown on two bush vine vineyards on a high slope with low production, healthy, young vines to produce body and finesse for long bottle maturation capacity. Heavy soil and cool slope for integrated natural acidity and fruitiness at low pH. Harvested with low quantity of raisins to avoid late harvest character.

Crushed and pressed till dry with nitrogen protection to avoid oxidation. Juice cleaned with coarse filtration and addition of selected yeast to start fermentation soon. 50% fermented in used French oak barrels, the rest in a stainless steel tank at a lower temperature. The wine had lees contact for 3 1⁄2 months.

This is a full bodied, rich, complex and balanced wine with peach, honeysuckle and nutty flavours. A ‘mouthful’ wine, but not heavy, which stays elegant till the finish. It is still young and gets more complex later.