The AA Badenhorst Family White is a veritable feast of flavours with an unusually vast range of cultivars making up this incredible Chenin-dominant white blend. Aromas on the nose are complex and develop well in the glass. Expect notes of citrus blossom, stone fruit, tea, spice and perfume, among others. The palate shows good ripeness and texture, and fruity flavours of stone fruit, alongside mineral notes. The aftertaste is drawn out with a subtle phenolic edge that holds up the fruit throughout each sip.
About the Wines & Winemaker
The vineyards – Mostly old bushvines planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s to Chenin Blanc, Cinsault and Grenache. The vines are unirrigated and farmed as biologically as possible. The vineyards are planted on north, east, and south facing slopes bringing tremendous variety to the fruit. Fruit from other selected sites within the appellation are also purchased to complete the final blends.
The soils – Three distinct types of granites are found here, namely the Paardeberg-, Lammershoek- and Lemoenfontein-type plus different sub-surface geology including clay, weathered granite and some serious shale.
The winemaking – All fruit, red and white, is whole bunch-handled so no crushing or destemming takes place. The whites are tranferred directly to old casks or into concrete tanks for fermentation and ageing. The red grapes are fermented in concrete tanks and open wooden kuipe. The post fermentation maceration is lengthy – up to 4 months -whereafter the wines are put to cask or 4000L foudres. No additions are done to the grapes other than sulfur before and after fermentation.
Our inspiration – The great old wines of South Africa and the discarded varietals, the bottles of which can be found in the forgotten corners of old cellars before modern methods and fame came along and changed the purity of the wines.
