Craven Karibib Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2023

In 2015, Mick found the ideal site for Chenin Blanc at the Karibib Vineyard in the Polkadraai Hills, planted by Jozua Joubert in 1981. The vines, trained initially on a single wire, now grow freely as “faux bush vines” on varied terrain with elevations from 200 to 1,300 feet, featuring granite soils above and sandy soils below. The cool 2023 season favoured Chenin Blanc’s slow ripening, enhancing flavour and acidity. Hand-harvested grapes were whole-bunch pressed into concrete tanks, fermenting naturally and undergoing malolactic fermentation. The wine aged on lees in concrete for nine months, then bottled unfiltered with minimal sulphur.

This Chenin displays lots of rich texture mingling with brine and salty stone fruit, perhaps from the decomposed granite of the Karibib Vineyard. The wine hits notes of yellow peach, apricot, honeysuckle, and bee pollen, the finish is long and extremely complex.