Chenin Blanc Verdelho, 2018

A delicious Cape white blend with aromas of white peach, lemon rind and jasmine. Flavours of green melon, green apple, brioche and tart lemon curd with a crystalline, wet stone minerality adding freshness and focus. Crunchy acidity and mouth-coating with a lovely long finish.

Meet the maker: Momento

Region: Bot River, Cape South Coast – South Africa

Grape(s): Chenin Blanc (67%), Verdelho (33%)

13.5% ABV / 750ml

Viticulture:

The Chenin Blanc grapes come from 40-year-old, dry land farmed bush vines in the Swartland, and a 36-year-old vineyard from Bot River, called ‘Langbene’ (long legs) - named after the unique and extremely long trunks of the vines. A soil combination of Bokkeveld shale and clay from Bot River, and decomposed granite from Swartland.

 The Verdelho grapes come from Voor-Paardeberg, grown in decomposed granite and clay as well as a vineyard in Bot River grown in Bokkeveld shale. The decomposed granite soils produce a rich, generous and broader palate, while the shale and clay soil from Bot River produces an austere, focused, and texture driven wine.

A combination of these two regions, together with the Verdelho that adds the freshness, combine to create a well-balanced wine, both rich and generous and elegant and well poised, with a mineral focus and bright acidity.

Winemaking:

The grapes were gently whole bunch basket-pressed without adding enzymes.  

 Natural fermentation was allowed to take place in French oak barrels. Some fine lees was added back to the juice in barrel to allow for more complex characters and textures to develop.

Aged in old oak for 10 months and no fining.