Alheit Vineyards : Cartology 2024

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Cartology 2024 from Alheit Vineyards

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a straw-yellow hue with golden highlights, offering brilliant clarity.

Nose
The bouquet gives off fresh, vibrant aromas. Citrus notes dominate, with hints of citrus peel, zest, and kumquat. Then come stone-fruit aromas reminiscent of very ripe pear, papaya, and white peach. Floral touches of honeysuckle and white flowers complete the aromatic profile, alongside herbal notes of white flax and dried herbs. A mineral dimension and honeyed nuances round out the whole.

Palate
The attack shows a slightly waxy, silky texture. On the palate, there is remarkable balance between aromatic richness and crystalline freshness. A fine, well-defined acidity structures the tasting, accompanied by a spicy dimension reminiscent of white pepper. The medium-bodied to full-bodied frame leads into a long, elegant finish marked by pronounced salty tension and a minerality that lingers.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to decant the Cartology 2024 one to two hours before tasting. This wine can be cellared for three to ten years, with an optimal drinking window extending to around 2040. With proper aeration, it is already very approachable.

A Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape revealing the authenticity of South African terroirs

The estate

Founded in 2011 by Chris and Suzaan Alheit, Alheit Vineyards established itself on the Hemelrand farm near Hermanus in the Walker Bay region (Western Cape). Internationally trained and mentored under Eben Sadie, the couple runs this family estate with a minimalist philosophy that highlights old Chenin Blanc and Sémillon vines.

The vineyard

The Cartology 2024 comes from vines spread across several parcels in the Western Cape, ranging from Walker Bay to Skurfberg, Piekenierskloof, Perdeberg, Bottelary, False Bay, Tygerberg, and Franschhoek. The 40- to 50-year-old Chenin Blanc vines deliver deliberately low yields, producing highly concentrated berries.

Vinification and aging

Hand-harvested. The vinification of the Cartology 2024 follows a minimalist approach. The grapes are whole-bunch pressed, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in various vessels, including large oak casks, amphorae, and egg-shaped tanks. Aging takes place for twelve months on the fine lees in the same vessels used for fermentation, followed by several additional months on the fine lees in tanks. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, preserving its full authenticity.

Grape varieties

This South African white wine from South Africa is a blend of Chenin Blanc (92%) and Sémillon (8%).