2023 Olifantsberg Grenache Blanc

Less than an hour's drive from Cape Town, in the heart of the South African Breedekloof wine region, lies Olifantsberg Family Vineyards. This small, five-hectare winery has been owned by the Dutch Leeuwerik family since 2003. The Olifantsberg vineyards are situated on the slopes of the Brandwacht Mountains. Thanks to the high altitude and the almost constant wind, there is a cool microclimate. Ideal conditions for the production of top-quality grapes! Work in the vineyard is carried out with respect for nature. The vines are organically fertilized, and yields in the vineyard are deliberately kept low. All this with the aim of harvesting optimally ripe, healthy, and concentrated grapes of high quality. After the manual harvest, these grapes are taken to the newly built vinification cellar. Here too, winemaker Jacques de Plessis lets nature do its work. After crushing the grapes, a traditional skin maceration follows, and the grapes are fermented. Subsequently, they are aged in oak barrels on their own lees, of which approximately one-third is renewed annually. As a result, the Olifantsberg wines are perfectly balanced, with beautiful, very well-dosed oak in aroma and taste.

Only a handful of bottles of Olifantsberg Grenache Blanc are produced; it is an almost Hermitage/Rhône-esque wine with Priorat undertones due to the slate terroir on which the Grenache grapes grow. As with all Olifantsberg wines, fermentation here takes place naturally in French oak barrels and a foudre, which lends the wine extra complexity. At Olifantsberg, the wines are given time and nature must do its work, so the Grenache Blanc is also allowed to age for 10 months on its lees, which further contributes to the freshness and richness of the wine. The Grenache Blanc has a unique style with great finesse. Subtle lime blossoms and green herbs together with peach and quince are followed by a richly structured flavor and balanced acidity.