Sadie Family Rotsbank Chenin Blanc 2023

Sadie Family Rotsbank Chenin Blanc 2023

Vineyards

Paardeberg, Swartland

Winemaking and Maturation

After harvesting, the grapes are placed in a cooling room to reduce the grape temperature. Average temperatures are often 35 degrees or more – pressing warm grapes comes with its series of problems. We then do whole bunch pressing, a process that takes about 3 hours, during which time there is a margin of settling of the juice in the collecting tank. The juice is then transferred to two old foudres for fermentation.

The wine is left in a cask on the fermentation lees for the first 12 months, and we bottle from the lees. Only about 60ppm of sulphur is added two weeks before bottling.

Tasting Notes

Rotsbank bottling displays flinty, almost crushed eggshell aromas with grapefruit and more tropical aspects once the initial minerality of the site gives way in the aromas. The wine is incredibly concentrated on the aromatics; the same concentration follows through on the palate. The tannins have massive tension, and the wine’s substantial acidity and dry finish suggest a wine that will only benefit much from time in the bottle.

Technical Details

Composition: Chenin Blanc