Alheit Vineyards : Cartology 2023
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In-Stock
DeliveryFree Home delivery for orders exceeding €300
Guaranteed provenanceWines sourced directly from the producing estates
Description
Tasting characteristics and advice for the Cartology 2023 from Alheit Vineyards
Tasting
Nose
The nose opens on a vibrant bouquet of ripe pear and citrus zest, accompanied by notes of sweet herbs. With aeration, nuances of candied lemon, perfectly ripe apples, Williams pears, and kumquat emerge, enhanced by subtle touches of oats, honey, quinces, and honeysuckle.
Palate
The palate stands out for its remarkable balance between subtle richness and crystalline freshness. Its silky texture coats the palate, while a saline tension brings energy and lift. The whole lingers on a long, elegant finish.
Serving and cellaring
Cartology 2023 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Decanting or aeration is recommended to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it also has cellaring potential through around 2033.
A Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape combining purity and elegance
The estate
Founded in 2011 by Chris and Suzaan Alheit, Alheit Vineyards has established itself as a benchmark in South Africa’s Western Cape. The estate works with a mosaic of old-vine Chenin Blanc and Sémillon from several of the Cape’s finest terroirs, guided by a minimalist philosophy that favors an authentic expression of place through exceptional white wines from dry-farmed vineyards. Their motto, “99% of the work is done in the vineyard, 1% in the cellar,” reflects their non-interventionist approach using indigenous yeasts and natural winemaking.
The vineyard
Cartology 2023 comes from a mosaic of parcels spread across the Western Cape, including Skurfberg, Piekenierskloof, Perdeberg, Bottelary, False Bay, and Tygerberg, as well as Franschhoek for the Sémillon. The vines, aged between 35 and 82 years, are predominantly bush-trained on decomposed granite soils.
Winemaking and aging
Hand-harvested. The grapes for Cartology 2023 are picked by hand, then whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in a range of vessels such as foudres, amphorae, and egg-shaped tanks. The wine is then aged for 12 months on lees, followed by 5 months in tanks on fine lees.
Grape varieties
This white wine from South Africa is a blend of Chenin Blanc (94%) and Sémillon (6%).
