Sadie Family "Skurfberg" Chenin Blanc 2021 (TA 98)

Tim Atkin MW 98 points.

This extraordinary 100% Chenin Blanc hails from South Africa’s northernmost wine region; the arid Citrusdal Mountain WO, on the west bank of the Olifants River. Specifically, the fruit is drawn from Basie van Lill’s 90-year-old, ungrafted bush vines on the decomposed, red sandstone slopes of the Skurfberg (which means ‘rigid mountain’). Planted between 1940 and 1955, these immaculately farmed vines have never been treated with herbicides or chemical fertilizers. “It is a truly great site for Chenin, and it is most unusual that such a warm and dry area still produces wines with this enormous texture and freshness,” says Eben.

The Chenin is whole-bunch basket-pressed, then transferred to old casks for natural fermentation. Following 12 months on lees, the wine is blended, then returned to the same casks before being bottled directly from foudre.

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