Eikeboom Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2016

Babylons Peak Chenin Blanc is made from 100 percent Chenin Blanc.

Babylon's Peak winery, situated on the highest weathered granite slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, is privately owned by the Basson family who has passed down the tradition, passion and art of winemaking over four generations. Predominantly low-yield dryland bushvines are selected to produce these excellent wines with distinctive character.

The Chenin Blanc grapes were picked from very old dryland bushvine vineyards. The vineyard grows on weathered granite soils, contributing to the flavor of the grapes and mineral character of the wine. Production is limited to 5 tons/ha.
The grapes were harvest by hand at 22.1°B. The grapes were destalked and lightly crushed. Only the first 450 litres free-run juice per ton were fermented in stainless steel tanks at a cold temperature (10-12°C) for 21 days. The wines was left on the fermentation lees until bottling.

A crisp, fresh and fruity Chenin Blanc from low-yield dryland bushvines.

Pairs with salads, seafood, chicken and other light dishes. The perfect wine for every occasion.

Kasteelberg Chenin Blanc is made from 100 percent Chenin Blanc.

The Kasteelberg range of wines celebrates the discovery of the Riebeek Valley and the Kasteelberg mountains in 1661. Kasteelberg stands sentinel over the fertile valley below. From the slopes of the mountains, hand-selected grapes are expertly crafted with care to produce rare and expressive wines.

Limited release, single-vineyard Chenin Blanc from hand-selected grapes from the foothills of the majestic Kasteelberg Mountain, Kasteelberg Chenin Blanc embodies excellent craftsmanship that transforms the harsh Swartland terroir into the pinnacle of our winemakers’ art.

Once harvested, the grapes are hand-sorted, de-stemmed & crushed into temperature-controlled gravitational drainers. Only the free-run juice is chilled and settled overnight. The juice is then racked off into new, 300 L, oak barrels (50% French oak, 50% Hungarian oak) and wild yeast fermented in the barrels. Fermentation is temperature controlled and lasted around 22 days. The wine is then matured in the oak barrel on the gross lees for 12 months before being racked off, filtered and bottled. After bottling the wine is further bottle-matured for at least 6 months before release.

Review:

"This old-vine Chenin is made with fruit from a 1982 vineyard on the lower slopes of the Kasteelberg. Rich, leesy and slightly dominated by its 50% new wood, but this has the concentration and focus to age well in bottle. Honeyed, spicy intensity is complemented by racy, chiselled acidity. 2021-25"

- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2020 Report), 91 pts

Riebeek Chenin Blanc is made from 100 percent Chenin Blanc.

As the unofficial drink of the Riebeek Valley, the Riebeek Chenin Blanc is the perfect every day wine that offers uncomplicated quality for the novice and connoisseur alike.

Packed with upfront tropical fruit, the nose charms with an abundance of guava and gooseberries. The pallets follows through with fruit flavors, balanced by a crisp acid to ensure a fresh and fruity style of wine.

Grapes came from both bosstok and trellised vines with some of the vineyards as old as 46 years. Fermentation was done at lower than usual temperatures to capture the fresh fruit flavors.

Very accessible and suited to almost every occasion, the Riebeek Chenin Blanc never disappoints.

A polished light yellow gold colour, this wine has a bouquet of citrus blossom with hazelnut, lemon grass and butterscotch undertones. The wine has a soft sweet entry with a racy linear acidity. Ripe citrus and stone fruit flavours evolve into a lovely lingering dry earthy finish. This is a textured white wine with layers of flavour.  

   Review:

"Subtle bouquet of orange blossom, cling peach, and beeswax. Taut and focused, revealing dried orange peel and apricot pit on a dense, mineral like palate. Sourced from the oldest vineyard on the farm, planted in 1971-2, it’s a selection of the best 500L barrels. About 250 cs produced. 13.5% alc."- International Wine Review (January 2019), 93 pts

"From vines planted at 250m next to the Blaauwklippen River back in 1971, this undemonstrative but utterly convincing Chenin needs a little time in the glass to unfold, like a fern in spring. When it does, you’ll find classic wet stone and apple aromas with a lick of honey. The palate is intense, deep and stony, subtle in articulation with a beeswax richness haunting its orchard fruit, while its vinosity brings food-friendliness. It's hard to better this for purity and classicism. Drinking Window 2019 - 2023."- Decanter (February 2019), 93 pts

Boich Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

22 months in French Oak- Taransaud and Darnajou

Thick, dense and expansive, the Missouri Hopper shows dark fig and cassis preserves, dried cherry and strawberry. Clone 337 from this historic site in southeast Oakville, a touch of molasses and stick spices linger throughout. Despite its saturation and size on the palate, the flavors roll perfectly together through a long and inky finish. This wine has the ability to taste great upon release and cellar well beyond while building complexity and nuance.

Vintage Notes – The fifth consecutively exceptional year for Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 growing season brought early bud break and spring rain. Temperate summer conditions allowed the fruit much needed time to naturally mature on the vine. A near perfect vintage, most vineyards saw slightly lower than average yields, but this coveted crop shows tremendous quality.

Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper – One of Napa Valley’s oldest vineyards, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper yields ripe fruit full of balance and power. Perfectly trellised vines soak up morning fog from the San Pablo Bay, while the robust foliage of the vines protect growing clusters from summer heat.

Oakville AVA – Lying along the valley floor, Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA brings the best of climate, soil and topography to wine growing. Beyond terroir, Oakville is lined with family-owned vineyards, meticulous farmers and winemakers. Fertile soils promote world-class grape growing conditions, while warm summers and dry, cool autumns are perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Review:

From another great site farmed by the famous Beckstoffer, this is grainy, textured and robustly ripe. Powerfully built to age and impress, it offers a wealth of lush, layered blue fruit and black licorice, as well as impressive structure. Enjoy 2026–2031. -Wine Enthusiast 94 Points

Short Street Chenin Blanc is made from 100% Chenin Clanc

Situated at the very heart of South Africa’s Swartland wine region, Short Street is the shortest street in the Riebeek Valley. A melting pot of creative energy, gourmet fare, farm fresh produce and the vibrant, uncomplicated lifestyle of the people, Short Street captures the essence of the Swartland, where passion, creativity and simplicity are distilled into a captivating experience.

Short Street Chenin Blanc is an aromatic and richly textured wine, with intense tropical flavors, typical of Chenin Blanc grown in the Swartland. The palate is a delicate balance of apricots, almonds, citrus and a hint of minerality for a luxurious finish.

To ensure an array of layered fruit flavors, only free run juice was fermented long & slow under cool conditions. After fermentation the wine is matured in French oak for 3 – 6 months.

Served well-chilled, the wine is exceptionally food-friendly, enhancing enjoyment without masking food character. Especially well-suited to decadent spicy food like, aromatic Thai green curry.