Chenin Blanc
150cl * Vegan * 14% ABV * Paarl, South Africa
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express winemaker JD Rossouw's continued goal, to make exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin.
Wildeberg Terroirs is a single site Chenin Blanc from old bush vines grown on the Smuts Block; an old, dry-grown bush vines rooted in the rocky, granite seam outcrops that surface in the otherwise deep, sandy loams between Table Mountain and Paarl. Hand-harvested fruit is naturally fermented back at the farm at Wildeberg for 12 months in new and older French barrels. As little work as possible is required in order to capture the site-specific energy of the fruit. Wildeberg Terroirs is an expression of the most exciting vineyard blocks this with in the wider Coastal Region. This is Wildeberg's first release of a Chenin Blanc from the long-established soils of Paarl Mountain.
A nose of warm sand gives way to a wave of broad blood orange, pithy texture and a taut, wiry seam of granite texture in the finish. This pairs well with a variety of different dishes, but excellent with oysters, game and grilled fish. Also nice with Duck à l’Orange and asparagus dishes.
Wildeberg was named ‘Winery of the Year’ by Winemag.co.za