2022 Skaliekop Chenin Blanc

Full bottle 1,339 g. The vines were planted in 1985 in very shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg, being an anomaly as the mountain is granite-driven. These soils demonstrate why Swartland is known for wheat farms as shale remains a difficult soil for vines in a warm region in a dry-land farming context. A narrow tractor road divides the Plat’bos and Skaliekop vineyards. Skaliekop was harvested mid February on two picking dates. The wine was fermented and aged separately for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels before blending and then bottling at the end of the year. This wine qualifies for the Certified Heritage Vineyards (CHV) seal and forms part of the Old Vine Project. Total production 2,505 bottles. RS is a smidgeon higher than the other single-vineyard wines at 2.8 g/l. Still quite youthful and restrained on the nose. But then there's a slight, welcome hint of coconut on the front palate. Lime flavours and quite a substantial mid palate despite the low alcohol. This is already approachable. Long and vibrant. Tense finish but a broad spread of fruit initially. (JR)

A Certified Heritage Vineyard planted in 1985 in very shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg (unusual for the area, which is mostly granite). They've been farming it organically since 2013. Picked on two different dates in mid February. The two pickings were separately and spontaneously fermented and separately aged for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels before blending and then bottling at the end of the year. RS 2.8 g/l, TA 5.7 g/l, pH 3.35. Total production 2,505 bottles. Unusual. The nose is spicy in a green-laurel-leaf and matcha-tea-powder kind of way with a struck-match kerpow. On the palate it's like a soapstone and jade sculpture carved in creamy curves and creamy greens. Chiselled edge, broad smooth sweep, shoulders of stone, crab-apple-bitter crunch. A whisper, hinting of honey, on the end. (TC)