2018 Olifantsberg Chenin Blanc

Olifantsberg Family Vineyards is less than an hour's drive from Cape Town, in the middle of the South African wine region Breedekloof. This small five-hectare winery has been owned by the Dutch Leeuwerik family since 2003. The Olifantsberg vineyards are located on the slopes of the Brandwacht Mountains. Thanks to the high location and the almost constant blowing wind, there is a cool microclimate. Ideal conditions for the production of top quality grapes! The vineyard is worked with respect for nature. The vines are fertilized organically and the yield in the vineyard is 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 and vineyard expert Elizma Visser lets nature do its work. After crushing the grapes, a traditional skin soaking follows and the grapes are fermented. After this they are aged in oak barrels of which about one third are renewed annually. The Olifantsberg wines are therefore perfectly balanced with beautifully dosed oak in smell and taste.

This white wine from Olifantsberg is a great pure 100% Chenin Blanc. This wine is made in collaboration with farmers who share the love for Chenin from the Breede Gorge. Paul Leeuwerik has been looking for farmers in the Breedekloof who have very old Chenin Blanc vines and after careful research, a number of old vineyards located on the slate terroirs have been selected with which the beautiful and above all very pure Chenin Blanc is produced. Natural fermentation was carried out in a combination of 2000L Foudres, used barrels where the wine Sur Lie (i.e. on its own lees) was allowed to mature for a period of 9 months.

The Chenin blanc from Olifantsberg has a light yellow color with a hint of green. The Chenin Blanc has a wonderfully fresh nose of lime, grapefruit and mango. On the palate, this white wine from Olifantsberg has a wonderfully juicy, fresh-dry taste of citrus fruit. The wine is medium bodied and is easy to drink, but can also be cellared for a few more years and will become even more beautiful with some aging. As far as we are concerned, one of the most beautiful Chenin blancs in the price range and incomparable to the mass-produced Chenin's and as Platter says: " ageworthy"

Press wine: Chenin Blanc 2017, 16 pts
Honey and peach, ripe apple, yellow plum | Structure, depth, elegant and juicy, nice acidity, youthful.

Platter's: Chenin Blanc 2015, ****
Widely sourced fruit melds into subtle, supple whole. 2015 tropical notes gain earthy, spicy nuances from native ferment in large old oak. Elegantly understated, age-worthy.