Spice Route Malabar is an expression of the vintage, with the finest barrels selected, irrespective of varietal.
Spice Route Chenin Blanc 2008
Posted in: Previous Vintages
Spice Route Chenin Blanc is a bold, full-flavoured style, produced using grapes predominantly from unirrigated bush vines at our Swartland vineyards.
IN THE VINEYARD:
Predominantly Chenin Blanc from a 33 year old vineyard on the Rheeboksfontein farm in the Swartland. Trellised vines are planted on a south east facing slope and are dryland farmed. The soils are predominantly koffieklip.
HARVEST DATE:
28 February 2008
WINEMAKING:
Grapes were harvested by hand at 25.8 degrees balling and the vineyard yield was 3.5 tons per hectare in 2008. The bunches were gently destalked and crushed and the juice was settled for 48 hours before fermentation in French oak barrels. 10% new barrels were used with the balance being 3rd and 4th fill barrels. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation, with weekly battonage for the 7 months that it spent in oak.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:
The good winter really helped this older vineyard and resulted in a good crop. With it being over 30 years old, a yield of 3.5 tons/hectare is actually quite high. The oaking is subtle making the wine approachable early on, but it will drink well up to at least 2011.
~ Charl du PlessisWine of Origin Coastal