OLD ROAD WINE CO. STONETRAIL SINGLE VINEYARD CHENIN BLANC 2019

Concentrated yet fresh, with mouth-filling white pear, quince and gooseberry, followed by aromatic almond blossom and a balanced, lingering finish. Its depth of flavour is one of the Stone Trail’s stand-out features, along with a bright, focused acidity and earthy minerality which should see it age well.

The vineyard that supplies the grapes for this wine is 36 years old, unirrigated, and at an altitude of 380 m above sea level. The vineyard started as a trellised vineyard, but over the years it became an improvised bushvine. Its grapes give excellent acidity in this wine and a perfect balance. At this high altitude, the vineyard is exposed to cool afternoon breezes every day.

Weathered shale soil

The vineyards are managed for ultra-premium quality and yield approximately 5 tons per hectare, with hand harvesting taking place at 23 degrees balling.

Grapes were hand-harvested in small bins at optimal ripeness. Grapes were left on the skins overnight and allowed to settle before being racked to the barrels for fermentation. After fermentation the wine underwent 9 months barrel maturation in mostly older French oak barrels as to add depth and staying power without detracting from the natural fruit character. Maturation on the primary lees with regular stirring or batonnage ensured further complexity and verve.

9 months of barrel maturation in mostly older French oak barrels as to add depth and staying power without detracting from the natural fruit character.