Description
W.O. Swartland
Vintage 2023
400 bottles
Chenin Blanc is a remarkable varietal, uniquely capable of expressing its terroir like no other grape. South African Chenin Blancs stand out as some of the finest globally, and this wine exemplifies the grape’s noble character, distinguished flavours, and impressive versatility.
This vineyard, planted in 1978, was originally intended for Pinotage, but a serendipitous mistake left a few vines grafted with Chenin Blanc among them. For 45 years, these 55 vines have thrived, interplanted with Pinotage, and have yielded just enough fruit in good years to fill a 300 L barrel. Some years, the yield is too low to produce any wine at all.
This is a wine that was never meant to be—a true Chenin Blanc, planted by chance.
Vintage conditions:
The 2023 season is distinguished by its dry, warmer winter, followed by generally favourable conditions during the early growth phase. A well-timed rain just before véraison improved grape quality, leading into a cool and wet ripening period that allowed grapes to mature slowly and fully. The smaller berries produced by these dry conditions resulted in wines with concentrated flavour and vibrant colour profiles, making this a standout vintage.
Wine making:
Following whole bunch pressing, the juice was settled for 2 hours before being transferred into a third-fill barrel. Fermentation was initiated by indigenous yeasts, capturing the true essence of the vineyard’s terroir and enhancing the wine’s texture and mouthfeel. To preserve freshness and fruit expression, secondary malolactic fermentation was not allowed, maintaining a desirable acid balance that gives the wine its backbone.
The wine remained on its fermentation lees, with occasional stirring for the first 60 days, before maturing in the barrel for 14 months. The wine was bottled straight from the barrel, unfiltered and unfined—pure Chenin Blanc at its finest.
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Year Planted: 1978, bushvine, dryland (no irrigation)
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Rootstock: Richter 99
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Clone: Various (thought to be Pinotage)
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Aspect: South East
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Soil: Malmesbury shale
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Ha: only 55 vines planted between Pinotage
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Maturation: 14 months in a 100% third-fill 300 L French oak barrel.
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Alcohol: 13.5% vol
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pH: 3.37
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Total Acidity: 6.5 g/l
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Residual Sugar: 2.9 g/l