Winemaker and winery: Jeff Grier, Villiera Wines.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc.
Region: Stellenbosch.
Viticulture/Vinification: Ripe fruit selected from three mature vineyards is picked with about 5% botrytis infection. One of the blocks is a low yielding dry land bush vine vineyard. The settled juice is fermented in 225 litre French oak barrels (50% new and 509% second fill) and to improve complexity it consists of 2 very different parts. The first component is treated with limited SO2 and malolactic fermentation is allowed while the balance is kept fresher and malolactic is prevented. Batonage is practiced on each barrel and wine is kept in the barrels for a total of 4 months.
Availability: Now - 100 stores.
14% vol.

A lot of sulphur on the nose, I thought, and then I realised it was Chenin Blanc, and so we could call it “wet wool”. Very savoury and textured. Not quite beautiful.
23/03/10

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