Never been asked to Danced 2023

Made from old Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1956 on the granite slopes of Paarl , South Africa, this wine tells as much a story as it expresses a terroir. These vines, non-irrigated and trained in the goblet style, sink their roots deep into poor, well-drained soils typical of the region's decomposed granite , giving the wine mineral tension and beautiful concentration. The region's Mediterranean climate, moderated by ocean breezes, allows for a slow and steady maturation, essential to the wine's natural balance. Vinification is carried out with a minimalist and respectful approach: the grapes are harvested by hand, pressed in whole bunches, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in 600-liter Austrian oak barrels. Aging on fine lees lasts approximately 10 months, without stirring or filtration, strengthening the wine's texture while maintaining its precision. Upon tasting, this wine reveals a subtle and captivating aroma: notes of citrus, white peach , quince , apricot skin, ripe apple and dried flowers , carried by a saline and mineral framework. On the palate, the wine is both ample and taut, with vibrant acidity and a long finish, marked by touches of flint , chalk and a noble bitterness.

The first vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really begin to take off until the arrival of French Protestants, in the 1680s, with their skills and their knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the southern hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often have more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards can also be found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, strongly influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.