2022 Hoe Steen Chenin Blanc

Full bottle 1,344 g. From a 2-ha vineyard planted in 1968 west of Malmesbury towards Darling in deep red iron- and clay-rich soils, the deepest David & Nadia work with in the Swartland. This block is a late ripener due to south-facing slopes. Planted with a mass selection grafted on to rootstocks a year after they were planted. A few Cape Riesling (Crouchen Blanc), False Pedro, Palomino, Sémillon and Clairette Blanche vines have been discovered in the vines since then. They say, 'the vineyard remains predominantly Steen for us and we see it as part of the Cape’s old vineyard history which we are privileged to be working with.' Harvested over three pickings mid/end February. It was hand-sorted, whole-bunch pressed and matured in old French oak barrels for a year. The wine has a Certified Heritage Vineyards (CHV) seal and forms part of the Old Vine Project (OVP). Total production 1,992 bottles. Smoky nose and the most savoury and dry of these single-vineyard bottlings. Very serious, rather burgundian wine. Burgundian price certainly! But the structure too. This should age well but can already be enjoyed. Long. (JR)

From their oldest vineyard. Certified Heritage Vineyards. The 2-ha Hoë-Steen vineyard was planted in 1968 west of Malmesbury towards Darling, south-facing, late-ripening. An old mass-selection clone with big bunches. On deep, red iron- and clay-rich soils. The deepest soils they work with. Three pickings from mid to end of February. Hand-picked, hand-sorted, whole-bunch pressed and matured in old French oak barrels for a year. RS 1.4 g/l, pH 3.56, TA 5.6 g/l. Total production 1,992 bottles. The most striking impression at first is the structural bitterness and length. Almost breathtaking in its power. Then it's the electric energy and pulse. This wine has voltage. It leaves your lips tingling, your throat vibrating with life. Then it's violets. Breathy, delicate, ethereally pretty. Quite a journey from start to finish. Achingly long persistence. (TC)