Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.0%
Residual Sugar 5.8 g/L
pH 3.22
Total Acidity 7 g/L
Calories (estimated) 110 kcal / glass
150ml glass110 kcal
750ml bottle550 kcal
Grape Varieties Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc100%
Drinking Window up to 15 years
Region Stellenbosch
Soil Decomposed granite
Fermentation Vessels Stainless Steel, Oak Barrel, Terracotta Amphorae, Concrete Eggs
Maceration 0.5 days
Lees Aging 9 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 400 L
Unfined Yes
Unfiltered Yes
Production Details The Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024 was crafted from vineyards across different wards in Stellenbosch. The 2024 vintage is certified as originating from Heritage Vineyards, which consist mainly of bush vines. Canopies were suckered and tipped to maintain a cool microclimate around the bunches, preventing direct sun exposure and avoiding botrytis. Excellent winter rainfall in 2023 was followed by an extremely dry summer and accompanied by strong winds during flowering. This significantly affected fruit set in earlier cultivars such as Old Vine Chenin Blanc, resulting in lower yields. Unusually hot and dry conditions desiccated the topsoil to such an extent that the grapes ripened up to 14 days earlier than usual. The season was characterised by smaller bunches and berries, promising wines of remarkable flavour concentration. The different grape parcels were harvested separately between 20 and 22° Balling, with a deliberate decision to pick at slightly lower sugar levels in order to retain freshness in the final wine. The grapes arrived at the winery early in the mornings, where they were crushed into holding tanks, and underwent skin contact for 12–18 hours prior to settling. After just one day of settling, the slightly turbid juice was racked off its gross lees into a stainless-steel tank and inoculated with selected slow-fermenting yeast strains. It was then gravity-fed into 400 L French oak barrels, Italian terracotta amphorae, and concrete eggs for fermentation, with barrel-fermented wine making up 50% of the final blend. No new oak was used, to preserve the delicate flavours of Chenin Blanc. The wine spent a further nine months on the lees in the respective fermentation vessels and was bottled without fining or filtration.
Certifications Heritage Vineyards
Tasting Notes
Nose: white peach, citrus pith
Palate: mineral, floral
Individual Vintages
Producer Information
Website
Address
Strand Road (R44), Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Phone
+27 (21) 880 0717
Owner
AdVini
Cellarmaster
RJ Botha