Hoë-Steen 2022

From the Hoë-Steen vineyard, this wine comes from old Chenin Blanc vines planted on sandy and stony soils near the west coast of the Cape, in the Swartland region of South Africa. The vineyard benefits from the refreshing influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, with sea breezes that temper summer heat. The poor and well-drained soils, combined with a Mediterranean climate marked by significant temperature variations, promote slow ripening of the grapes and give the wine a precise, saline expression deeply linked to its terroir.

The Chenin grapes come from old bush vines, harvested manually in the cool of the morning to preserve aromatic purity. After meticulous sorting, the berries are gently pressed in whole bunches. The must is gravity-fed into old French oak barrels, where fermentations occur spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts. Aging continues on fine lees, without excessive bâtonnage, in these same containers, to maintain the saline tension and mineral precision characteristic of the decomposed granite terroir.

This wine reveals notes of ripe stone fruit, zesty citrus, and yellow apple, complemented by delicate floral touches, subtle spicy nuances, and a saline mineral dimension. Fine woody accents from aging bring complexity and depth without dominating the fruit. On the palate, the body is ample yet taut, driven by a lively acidity, a slightly chalky texture, and great length, with a precise and mouth-watering finish that highlights the purity of the coastal terroir.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and 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 share 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 are also 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, heavily 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 Cinsault 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.