Product Description
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Varieties
100% Chenin Blanc
The Vineyard
DeMorgenzon’s Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines planted in 1972, which were originally planted as bush vines but recently lifted onto trellises. The vines are planted in decomposed granite soils, at altitudes of 250 to 300 meters above sea level. Close proximity to False Bay ensures cooling breezes in the warm summer months.
The Harvest
2019 was a cooler vintage than the previously hot and dry years. Whilst the vineyards benefited from decent winter rainfall there were some latent stress effects from the previous year’s drought conditions. This resulted in some uneven budding and careful harvesting was necessary to achieve a total pick of optimum ripeness. Cool conditions during the early part of the ripening resulted in high acidities and low pH, resulting in wines that are fresh, precise, and bright.
The Cellar
The grapes were picked in three different passes in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selections done in the vineyard. The fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (20% new), using indigenous yeasts, with about 20% of the volume completing malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 10 months, without batonage.
Winemaker : Carl van der Merwe
Alcohol content: 14.09%
TA: 5.6 g/l
pH: 3.37
RS: 2.5 g/l
Awards
2019
92 Points Neal Martin Vinous Report 2021
Gold & Regional Trophy International Wine Challenge 2020
95 Points Tim Atkin MW’s South Africa Report 2020
Silver Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2020
Top 10 Winner Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge 2020
2018
Gold Medal Decanter World Wine Awards 2019
2017
The 50 most exciting wines of 2018 Decanter Magazine
95 points Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report 2018
92 points Neal Martin for Vinous
Platinum Decanter World Wine Awards 2018
Gold medal Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2018
Top 10 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Challenge 2018
2016
95 Points Tim Atkin MW’s South Africa Report 2017
International Chenin Blanc Trophy and Gold medal winner International Wine Challenge 2017
93 points Neal Martin of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 2016
Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2017
2015
Chenin Blanc Trophy International Wine and Spirits Competition 2016
International Chenin Blanc Trophy and Gold medal winner International Wine Challenge 2016
Gold medal winner Decanter World Wine Awards 2016
95 points Tim Atkin MW’s South African Report 2016
Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2016
2014
95 points Christian Eedes WineMag.co.za
94 points Tim Atkin MW’s South African Report 2015
91 points Stephen Tanzer’s Wine Cellar
Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2015
Bacchus Trophy Taj Classic Wine Trophy Awards
International Chenin Blanc Trophy International Wine Challenge 2015
