“My family bought a small farm on the Kasteelberg in 2009. 11 years later a cellar was built, which is currently shared between Donovan (Rall Wines), Jolandie (Wolf and Woman Wines) and myself. My passion is Syrah and Chenin Blanc although a few select vineyards are too special to pass up. I have a “hands-off” approach in the winery unless something requires attention. I don’t feel the need to justify my position as a winemaker by being hyperactive in the cellar. Ultimately the vineyard and the resulting wine must do the talking.”
Hand harvested at dawn into small crates and driven to the cellar by tractor. The grapes spent a few hours in the cold room after which they were whole-bunch pressed to a settling tank. The next morning the juice was transferred to a 2606L foudre where natural fermentation occured. The wine spent 11 months on the lees.
The grapes, grown by my neighbour, come from a single vineyard aged 34 years old. The vineyard is on a steep slope at the foot of the Kasteelberg mountain and the soil is therefore predominately schist. Aspect is South-East (a cooler slope) which allows for optimal phenolic ripeness without unpleasantly high alcohol levels.
11 months in a 2606L Stockinger foudre.
Christian Eedes
The credentials of Paardeberg Chenin Blanc is now well established but La Cósmica 2022 as made by Tim Hillock uses grapes from elsewhere in the Swartland, specifically a Kasteelberg vineyard planted in 1988 on predominantly schist soils.
Spontaneously fermented and matured for 10 months in a single 2 606-litre foudre, the nose shows flinty reduction before pear, lime, lemon, fynbos and floral perfume. The palate, meanwhile, has pure fruit, electric acidity and a pithy finish (alc: 12.81%). It’s a particular linear example of the variety with great finesse.
CE’s rating: 95/100.
