10 in stock
40,00 €
10 in stock
Tim Atkin
Tim Atkin is a UK-based Master of Wine (MW) and wine journalist with an international following.
+Platter
The Platter‘s Wine Rating System uses a 100-point scale to evaluate the quality of South African wines, with points awarded based on appearance, aroma, taste, and overall quality.
+Hemelrand Vine Garden is a unique vineyard that produces a unique wine. The idea is to bottle the wine just as the vineyard produces it, effectively creating a white field blend that changes every year depending on the vintage conditions. This way we have one place expressed by a few different grapes, changing as the season dictates. The wine is always remarkable and continues to gain in stature as the vines mature.
Vineyards
Hemelrand is situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360 meters above sea level, on gravelly clay, and Sandstone. The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, and Muscat Blanc a Petit grain. However, as mentioned, the proportions of the different grapes produced significantly varies each vintage. Viticulturally speaking, this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity.
Winemaking and Maturation
The grapes were picked early in the morning, sorting in the vineyard, and whole bunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation took place in old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasted for about two months. The wine was kept on lees for around 12 months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further six months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.
Vintage Notes
As always, the nose is intense and exotic, sporting salted lemon and quince, oatmeal and a hint of white flowers. The palate has tremendous drive, with great acidity balancing richness. Very long finish. This is a great Vine Garden vintage.
Technical Details
Alc:14.35%
RS:2.7
TA:5.85
pH:3.33
Wine of Origin: Hemel & Aarde Ridge (Estate Wine)
Grower: Hans Evenhuis
Varieties: 31% Chardonnay, 29% Roussanne, 20% Chenin, 18% Verdelho, 2% Muscat
Bottling date: May 2023
Production: 3823 bottles and 60 magnums
The Name
Vine Garden aptly describes both the attention to detail in small scale viticulture on Hemelrand and the handful of grape varieties represented in the vineyard.
Data Sheet