wine--Chenin Blanc 2005,South Africa price supplier

Because this wine contains only 5% Viognier it is still sold as a Chenin Blanc in the UK, Japan and Canada.)

Wine analysis
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.4g/L
Total Acid: 6g/L
pH: 3.39

Vineyard and Vinification notes
5% of the grapes were from a 5 year old, South-West facing, trellised Viognier vineyard. The topsoil is rocky and of granitic origin and the subsoil is clay. The vines are trained onto a 7 wire trellis. The yield was 4 t/ha. The juice was fermented in small (228L) barrels and left on the lees for 3 months. The resulting wine was full-bodied and rich in apricot, blossom and white pepper flavours.
   The Chenin Blanc portion came from 2 vineyards. A 23 year old, unirrigated, bushvine vineyard on relatively sandy soils and a younger (16 year old), trellised vineyard on heavier clay-based soils. Grapes from the bushvine vineyard resulted in wine with a soft mouthfeel and tropical aromas, while the wine from the trellised vineyard had more acidity and some Green Apple flavours. All the Chenin Blanc was fermented at cold temperatures in stainless steel tanks.
The wine was blended and bottled 4 months after harvest.

Tasting notes
Aromas of guavas, baked apples, peaches and Cinnamon and a touch of white pepper. A medium-bodied, fresh and juicy wine.

Vintage
The 2005 vintage was relatively warm and disease free with very little rain during the preceding winter (less than 500mm during 2004 compared to the long-term average of about 620mm). Unseasonal pre-harvest rains during January resulted in isolated botrytis infections and some grey hairs. The infected grapes were discarded (it was the nasty botrytis rather than the noble kind). Although the dry conditions resulted in unprofitably small yields in the unirrigated vineyards, the grapes were healthy and varietal flavours were quite pronounced.