THE BERNARD SERIES OLD VINE CHENIN BLANC by Bellingham 2020

The wine is varietal expressive and defined by its bright fruit expression and rich, full palate. On the nose the wine presents a fruit mélange of peaches and apricots, pineapple, honeysuckle, and orange citrus that follows through to spicy apple and lime notes. On the palate the wine is very seductive with its Chenin Blanc purity, and seamless integration, that leaves one with a rich mouth-watering finish, filled with coated creamy fruit sweetness and spice, as is indicative of its old bush vine origins.

Winemaker Richard Duckitt talks Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc

The grapes for this celebrated wine are from 4 exceptional Chenin Blanc vineyards aged between 37 and 49 years old. These low yielding bush vines are grown in predominantly weathered granite soils and shaped by the ocean breezes from nearby Table and False Bay. The sites are especially known to produce powerful wines of exceptional concentration, acidity and balance.

Predominately consists of weathered granite.

The 2020 Harvest was extremely interesting with cooler temperatures in the evening ensuring slow and even ripening. However, in February an increased day time temperature combined with the lower nightly temperature and lower rainfall resulted in a high quality season.

The vineyards were harvested at two ripeness levels to add complexity. Hand-picked, larger portion of natural fermentation in barrel; Foudre; Amphora and Concrete tanks. Cool climate fruit expression with good acidity. The barrels and Foudre are individually cooled to the optimum fermentation temperature. This allows slower and longer fermentations that enhance fruit and integration between the wine and oak. After fermentation, the wine was left on its lees and batonnage monthly until blending and bottling.