Coterie Chenin & Grenache Blanc 2023

This vintage is a blend of selected parcels from South Africa's Coastal Region. The Chenin Blanc comes from old bush vines in Franschhoek, while the Grenache Blanc is grown on the warmer soils of Paarl. Both regions benefit from a Mediterranean climate tempered by oceanic influences, where dry soils promote low vine vigor and excellent grape concentration. This blend highlights the complementarity between freshness, texture, and terroir expression.

The grapes are hand-harvested at perfect ripeness before being vinified separately. Both varietals ferment naturally with indigenous yeasts in 600-liter French oak foudres, limiting the wood's impact while adding depth and complexity. The wine is then aged for 6 months in the same containers, primarily second and third-use barrels. This low-intervention approach preserves the fruit's purity while developing a rich and refined texture.

This wine reveals notes of yellow lemon, quince, and ripe pear, enhanced by nuances of chamomile, white pepper, and sweet spices. On the palate, the Chenin Blanc brings beautiful tension and a generous texture, while the Grenache Blanc enriches the whole with its volume. The balance between freshness, richness, and finesse extends into a persistent, elegant, and delicately mineral finish, revealing the full personality of this South African blend.

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.