Alheit Vineyards - Western Cape Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023
South Africa
White
Sold individually
Drink or Keep
17,5/20
Jancis Robinson
-
94/100
Vinous
"This complex blend from the Hemelrand vineyard offers a unique and memorable tasting moment..."
" A slight body shock to go from the structural power of Huilkrans and Magnetic North to the golden glow and seductive power of Hemelrand. The wine is so rich it almost tastes sweet (which, at 2.7 g/l residue, it certainly doesn't). It's a tango of sweet and spicy, bitter and spicy. Honey and potato jelly, kumquat marmalade and russet apples. An ever-changing shimmer of golden grass spices. A long, whispering finish that leaves an impression of fireflies in its wake. 2024-2032" (Jancis Robinson 2024)
Features
Estate
Alheit Vineyards
Cuvée
Hemelrand Vine Garden
Vintage
2023
Designation
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Region
South Africa
Grape varieties
36% Chardonnay, 28% Roussanne, 18% Chenin, 17% Verdelho, 1% Muscat
Terroirs
Clay and sandstone soils, vines planted in 2010, 360 meters altitude, Hemelrand Vineyard, warm Mediterranean climate
Viticulture
Reasoned
Harvest
Manual
Winemaking
Whole bunches pressed (each variety separately), cold skin maceration, fermentation in barrels of various sizes for 2 months (9 months for Roussanes).
Breeding
12 months on lees (same wooden containers as during fermentation), then 6 months in stainless steel tanks on fine lees, unfined and unfiltered.
Alcohol content
13,5%
Tasting & pairing
Eye
Purple colour, shiny disk
Nose
Intense, stone fruit and exotic fruit scents (characteristic of Vine Garden), notes of orange peel and apricot.
Mouth
Complex and powerful, with a rich, velvety texture, perfectly balanced thanks to its liveliness that carries through to the finish, with a precise, tapered persistence.
Serve
AT 10-12°C
Open
1 to 2 hours before
Drink from
2024
Drink before
2042
Production
6,000 bottles
Food and wine pairing
Enjoy with skate in caper sauce, roast poultry, fresh goat's cheese...
Alheit Vineyards
Western Cape
Expert opinion
Wine Spectator
Domaine noté (guide 2021) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Wine Spectator)
Jancis Robinson
Wine rated (guide 2024 ) 17.5/20
About the wine:
A slight body shock to go from the structural power of Huilkrans and Magnetic North to the golden glow and seduction of Hemelrand. The wine is so rich it almost tastes sweet (which, at 2.7 g/l residue, it certainly doesn't). It's a tango of sweet and spicy, bitter and spicy. Honey and potato jelly, kumquat marmalade and russet apples. An ever-changing shimmer of golden grass spices. A long, whispering finish that leaves an impression of fireflies in its wake. 2024-2032
Vinous A. Galloni
Wine rated (guide 2024) 94/100
About the wine:
Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023 comes from vines planted in 2010. Chris Alheit says everything looked perfect until 12 or 14 days before the scheduled harvest, when he began to see botrytis appear on the chenin blanc. He briefly considered making a sweet wine from this fruit, but in the end, as this is a blend of fields, the chenin is "in the mix". As a result, the nose is slightly honeyed, but remains well-defined with a fine minerality. The palate is clear and precise, with a slightly viscous texture counterbalanced by acidity. Very distinctive and true to the vintage, it reveals a hint of bitter lemon on the finish. Very fine. 2026-2042
Tim Atkin
Graded area (2020 guide) Recommended
Customer reviews
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