Leopard's Leap Culinaria Chenin Blanc 2020

Origin: Culinaria Chenin Blanc is a Wine of Origin Western Cape. Grapes were picked from an old dryland bushvine in Darling and used for the production of this Loire-style wine. The Voor-Paardeberg & Darling area are well-known for growing excellent quality Chenin Blanc grapes.

Composition: 100% Chenin Blanc Vineyards: The grapes grow on bush-vines with an average age of twenty years and an average yield of 4,8 tons per hectare. The unirrigated soils have a unique water-releasing capacity that favours good grape concentration.

Wine-making: grapes were hand-picked at optimum ripeness. Grapes were, de-stemmed, crushed and pressed after a short period of skin contact. The juice was allowed to settle, then fermented at between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius in 500-litre second-fill and third-fill French oak barrels. Barrels were topped up and the wine was allowed nine months' lees contact prior to blending and bottling. Before release, the wine was bottle-matured for four months.

Analysis: Alcohol 13,5% Vol Residual sugar 2,0 g/l pH 3,30 Total acid 5,7 g/l

Character: aromas of green apple and tropical fruit lead on to lush fruit on the palate overlaid with sweet spice, a lively tartness and elegant nuances of oak. Rich, honeyed and concentrated yet refreshingly vibrant. Phenomenally good for the money.