LONGRIDGE CHENIN BLANC 2009

Stellenbosch, Helderberg

Annual Rainfall: 640mm
Proximity to ocean: 13km

Decomposed shales

Grapes were handpicked (in the first week of March 2009) and sorted, in the vineyards just below the Longridge cellar, on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain, from 28 year old vines. The grape quality was enhanced by the timely vintage rains. Tonnage was 4.2 tons per hectare or 28 HL/hectare.

Clinton Le Sueur & Hendrien Eloff

The grapes arrived in the cellar in the cool of the morning and were whole bunch pressed into settling tanks. The juice (with 5% lees) was then racked to barrels (15% New Burgundian and 15% new American oak) to undergo a combination of selected yeast culture and spontaneous fermentation. The wine was kept cool after fermentation and battonaged fortnightly before being racked, for bottling in July.

Alc: 13.79%
TA: 5.6 g/l
RS: 2.3 g/l
pH: 3.29

A delicately balanced wine with nuances of dried pear, floral under tones, apricot, green apple an a fynbos honey comb finish, which is well integrated with a freshness of lime and minerality, A colour, with hues of green, boarders on a light golden, denoting hints of oaking and pallet fullness.

Within 14 years from harvest.

Combines well with lazy, sunny summer afternoon contemplation. Red snapper fish on a bed of gnocchi and ratatouille.