The Fledge & Co. Jikken Barrels Nel & Coetzee Steen 2022

Single vineyard, gnarled old dry farmed bush vines planted back in 1968, wedged into granitic iron stone rich soils North of Malmesbury in the centre of the Swartland. Hand harvested, allowed skin contact in press, cold settled & lees rich cold fermented. Three month Sur lie maturation prior to bottling lightly filtered. Floral 'n ripe stone fruit forward bouquet with hints of white spice, leads into a palate of yellow 'n orange citrus, mango, hints of baking spice 'n long chalky finish. An ideal aperitif or paired with seafood, free range fowl or Cape Malay cuisine. Proper Swartland Steen

Single vineyard, dry farmed bush vines planted in decomposed granitic & iron stone rich soils in 1968. Typical Swartland Mediterranean climatic conditions - cold wet winters & dry hot summers. North South row directions on gentle terraces up on an exposed knoll with direct line of sight to Table Mountain & the Atlantic Ocean.

Decomposed granitic & heavy iron stone rich soils. Deep red soils with clay layers allowing for maximum uptake & storing of winter rains.

2022 was another challenging vintage in the Cape - with a mild & cool spring moving swiftly to a summer of heat wave intermittent rain showers and cooling down to an early autumn. Fruit picked on taste & acidity, with a premium on acid freshness, so harvest occurred the second week of February.

Hand harvested at dawn, destemmend & crushed to pneumatic press, allowed skin contact for 6 hours followed by gentle pressing. Overnight cold settling, racked off with high percentage of lees for long cold fermentation utilising neutral yeast. Post ferment racked with high portion of fine lees to tank for three month sur lie maturation. Lightly filtered prior to bottling.

Sur lie matured on high portion of fine lees at low temperature in stainless steel for three months prior to bottling lightly filtered under screw cap.