Renosterwacht Chenin Blanc 2014

Wine of Origin: Coastal Region

Winemaker: Antoinette van Zyl

Background:  When two mates from school days met up later in life finding themselves both in the wine industry the idea of making a wine together was a given! James McKenzie of Snow Mountain Vineyards in Wellington and Murray Giggins, CEO of Enartis, a company supplying products to the wine industry, decided to produce a wine and at the same time give something back to society. Hence the birth of Renosterwacht Wines with the debut of their first wine the Renosterwacht Chenin Blanc 2014. The wine was made from rare 35 year old Chenin vines found in the “Renosterveld”, an eco-region in the Cape Biome which is the home of the Cape’s fynbos. The name Renosterwacht (loosely translated as Rhino Guard) is a tribute to the many Rhino’s that have been killed by poachers and a portion of the wine sales go towards the protection of the Rhino species in South Africa.

The grapes were hand harvested and after a rest overnight at the cellar they were destemmed and crushed. The free run juice was later transferred to third fill barrels for nine months which included both fermentation and maturation on the lees prior to bottling.

Result: This first vintage offers hints of jasmine and orange blossom on the nose which leads to a layered palate of dried apricot, ginger and lime notes. The finish is punctuated by a lively acidity and gentle smokiness from the French oak it was fermented and matured in.

When to drink: now till 2020

Drink with what: Spicy Thai inspired dishes or even with Tempura prawns

Expect to pay: R123.00