Chenin Blanc/Other Blends

Small parcels of selected fruit is sourced from various vineyards on the Badenhorst farm called Kalmoesfontein located in the Swartland area and the greater Paardeberg mountains.  This wine is made up of a fantastic blend of Chenin Blanc;  Roussanne; Marsanne; Grenache Blanc; Viognier; Verdehlo; Colombard; GrenacheGris; Clairette Blanche and Palomino.   The vinification is quite straight forward when you are working with fantastic grapes from old vineyards – wholebunch pressing of cool grapes, this juice is then transferred to very old casks for fermentation and maturation.  Some varieties are blended at a very...

Adi Badenhorst one of the more righteous producers of South Africa with a strong currency in the reinvention of boutique wines there, and further. Here’s chenin from the beating heart (or edges) of Swartland region. Organic, natural winemaking.   ‘This wine spent time on its lees in concrete tanks and old casks, which gives incredible texture and palate weight to the wine. The aromas are flinty with honey, orange blossom, and white stone fruit notes. The vintage was characterized by a long ripening period in mild conditions and has the effect of good ripe flavors and fresher acidity than in previous years.’ –...

Tim Atkin MW 96 points. This Semillon is made from Certified Heritage Vineyards, which count amongst the oldest in South Africa. These Franschhoek Semillon vineyards have acclimated to the harsh conditions and alluvial soils in which they grow, producing unique wines with intense depth and complexity. These old vineyards’ deep root systems and high skin-to-pulp ratio produce intensely complex, well-structured wines with unbelievable ageing potential. Two of the vineyards used for the Semillon, planted in 1902 and 1942, are unirrigated bush vines, growing on little to no slope in the ancient Franschhoek Riverbed. These vineyards are...

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47% Chenin Blanc, 11% Semillon, 9% Verdelho, 7% Clairette Blanche, 7% Roussanne, 6% Grenache Blanc, 6% Marsanne, 5% Colombar and 2% Viognier. Subtle and elusive aromatics of pear, peach, citrus, hay and flowers while the palate has great fruit expression and bright acidity, the finish lightly grippy. Taut and detailed, a wine of finesse if not quite the same intensity as the previous vintage. Alc: 12.5%” –  CE 95/100. Winemag. ‘The 2022 Aristargos is immensely complex, fresh and exciting. It comes from different soil types that express a refined mineral essence with pomaceous and yellow citrus notes in this wine....

Tim Atkin 96 points. A wine of incredible density and precision. A hint of yellow suggests sun ripened berries, with a bright green hue promising freshness. Aromas of lime blossom, white peach, caramel and brioche are followed by a poised palate with an extremely concentrated core. This is a great wine that will reward decades of cellaring. A true statement of DeMorgenzon’s dedication to excellence. Very limited production.   VINIFICATION AND MATURATION The grapes were picked in two different passes from a particular part of the old vineyard. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the...

Tim Atkin MW 93 points. A modern and intriguing white Bordeaux blend, the Delaire Graff White Reserve illustrates a playful juxtaposition of character.  Handpicked and whole bunch pressed, matured separately for 5 months in 330-litre French oak barrels, then blended and kept on primary lees for an additional 5 months, this wine defines precision. Zesty citrus, lime and almond with layers of pineapple, passion fruit and gooseberries. A crisp, spicy minerality adds to a long and lingering finish.   GRAPE VARIETALS 83% Sauvignon Blanc, 17% Semillon. AGEING POTENTIAL Ageing is a fundamental component of the Delaire Graff White Reserve...

‘From a Helderberg vineyard planted in 1957, this was matured for 10 months in a mix of old oak, terracotta egg, and dolium (a large amphora). The nose reveals pear, peach, lemon, herbs, and a hint of reduction, while the palate is sumptuous and sexy – weight and creaminess in part due to some residual sugar, the acidity nicely coated, the finish gently savoury. Alc: 12.95%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100.   VITICULTURE From an old Chenin vineyard planted on the Helderberg, planted in 1957 on decomposed granite with clay subsoil. These bushvines yield tiny bunches with very small grapes, inspiring the...

Terrasse is a seamless, skilfully blended cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 54% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne. Barrel-fermented and aged in older oak, it's floral, spicy and intense, marrying citrus, pear and clementine flavours and a touch of tannic grip. 2023-28. Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com (September 2023)  93/100.

James Suckling 98 points. Extraordinary aromas of white peaches, apricots, vanilla and flowers. Full-bodied and very sweet with so much sweet and dried fruit, such as apricots and tangerines, yet it maintains citrusy freshness and texture, with a long, very sweet finish. Always energetic and vivid. Great length to this. Goes on for minutes. It’s a sweet wine to drink when young, to marvel over the intensity and verve, yet also one to age for decades. Drink or hold.   Review Date:  20th August 2021.

James Suckling 97 points. Bright, medium to deep gold hue, showing focused and pure aromas of honeysuckle, fresh vanilla, lemon tart, dried mango, ginger and a hint of saffron. Certainly quite sweet, but not unctuous, with the natural, effortless acidity managing to balance the lushness. Intense, yet scented and naturally expressive. Persistent finish. You crave for a second glass if you drink it now, but you can also hold it for a decade in your cellar. #NEWINT

James Suckling 96 ppoints. Bright medium-gold hue with a focused and intense nose layered with honeysuckle, apricot, citrus, honey and marmalade. A hint of mineral, too. Really pure and tangy with a luscious palate balanced by intense citrusy flavors and natural acidity that is beautifully chiselled to the palate. Long and effortless. Consistently great muscat here. Drinkable now if you love the vibrancy of it, but one could keep this for a decade or two.  

Wine Advocate 97+. This wine has been made the same way since 1737. The Klein Constantia 2021 Vin de Constance reflects a great vintage on the Cape. The three-week period in March when fruit is harvested is Winemaker Matthew Day's favorite time of year. He loves the way the sunshine hits this beautiful part of the vineyard. Muscat de Frontignan is planted to 40% bush vines and 60% trellised vines (this section is harvested last). They make as many as 25 to 30 passes through the vineyard at harvest. Because Muscat lacks acidity, they pick the bush vines early. Magic happens, he says, during maceration, when aromas of candied fruit and...

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, 97 points. Power and precision in the flavours, a touch of tar, rosebuds, pink grapefruit, preserved citrus, star anise, just a ton of flavour and character and grip, it stretches out through the palate, peach pit, with energy and power. Just such a consistently great wine. Matthew Day winemaker, 90ha estate, 18 months in 50% new 500L Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in large oak casks, 168g/h residual sugar.   Drinking Window:  2025 - 2032 Reviewer Name:  Jane Anson Review Date:  8th July 2025.

"From a Swartland vineyard co-planted to Chenin Blanc and Palamino. Matured for 12 months in acacia and oak foudres. Top notes of hay and potpourri before pear and peach. Dense fruit matched by a good line of acidity, the finish pithy. Direct and surprisingly forceful – alcohol is 13.4%" Wine Magazine     #JS  

"From a Swartland field blend of Chenin Blanc, Palomino, Semillon Blanc and Gris. Matured for 12 months in acacia and oak foudres. Haunting aromatics of pear, peach, citrus, flowers, hay and earth. The palate has lovely fruit purity but equally is not short of weight and texture, the finish possessing a slight but not unpleasant bitterness. Great focus and drive. Alc: 13.34%. "   Wine Magazine 98/100     #JS

PLATTER’S GUIDE 2024 - 5-STAR AWARD PLATTER’S GUIDE 2024 - BEST GRENACHE BLANC VITICULTURE Grown on Malmesbury shale and decomposed granite, these trellised vines allow us to precisely manage the canopy to enhance fruit, complexity and balance. VINIFICATION Hand harvested and cooled overnight, this was whole-bunch pressed to restrain phenolics, yet was fermented with a high percentage of solids to give breadth and definition to the palate. 55% was fermented in seasoned tight-grain French oak Allier and Compiègne hogsheads, and 45% of the wine in 500- and 1000-litre terracotta clay doliums preserving the crystalline purity...

VITICULTURE Sourced from two of the few Roussanne vineyards in South Africa, 40% from our vineyards on the home farm and 60% from our neighbour, this is planted in the Voor Paardeberg on well-weathered Perdeberg decompsed Granite soils. Trellised and spur pruned, this vineyard produced 4.2 tons per hectare in 2022. VINIFICATION Hand harvested, chilled overnight and whole-bunch pressed to avoid phenolics typical of this variety. Juice with a high solids content fermented in seasoned 300-litre Allier hogsheads and about 25% fermented in terracotta clay amphora, with partial malolactic fermentation. Maturation and batonnage sur-lie for 10...