Mooiplaas Chenin Blanc Bush Vines 2023

Lovely pale straw colour. Nose decidedly tropical with quince, golden delicious apples, litchi, mango, and summer melon aromas. Good weight and balance on the palate, layered with minerality on the finish. The wonderful mouthfeel that typifies ripe Chenin Blanc has already started to develop and will increase in the next 12 – 24 months.

Grapes from the Houmoed vineyard block were used, a dry land bush vine block, 2 ha in size, planted by Nicolaas Roos in 1972 on rootstock Richter 99, altitude 280 m above sea level on a western slope of the Bottelary Hills. A clear line of sight to False Bay, which implies an afternoon cooling sea breeze.

Oakleaf, high potential soil

The much-needed rainfall during winter and a relatively cool summer provided ideal conditions for growth and ripening. An outstanding vintage for white grapes, no heat waves and low night temperatures together with a dry cool summer. Juice cleaned by settling, 30% of the volume was allowed to ferment spontaneously with wild yeast. After fermentation the wine was blended together. Extended lees contact allowed after fermentation

100% Stainless ferment, 2 months extended lees contact