Steen Chenin Blanc 2023

Originating from a single vineyard located in Piekenierskloof, in the western Cape of South Africa, this plot was planted in 1977 at an altitude of approximately 750 meters on soils of decomposed sandstone and granitic quartz. The vines are cultivated organically and without irrigation. The mountain climate provides a slow ripening cycle and significant temperature variations, fostering a beautiful aromatic expression combined with remarkable freshness. The choice of such a terroir allows the Chenin Blanc to reveal finesse, tension, and depth.

The winemaking process begins with hand-harvesting followed by whole-cluster pressing and fermentation with indigenous yeasts in old 500-liter barrels. Aging continues for approximately 10 months in these neutral containers, on fine lees. This understated and respectful approach results in an elegant, taut wine that highlights the fruit and the terroir.

This wine reveals notes of citrus, ripe pear , yellow nectarine , fresh quince , exotic fruits, verbena infusion, chamomile, dried herbs , and a subtle touch of salinity. On the palate, the texture is dense yet refined, with a chiseled acidity that adds structure and a long, elegant finish.

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.