Alheit Vineyards Cartology 2020

Cartology 2020

Cartology is a vinous exploration of Cape heritage.  It’s intended to be a picture of the Cape seen through the lens of her old vineyards in a given vintage. The cuveé is composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines, of heritage grapes, namely Chenin Blanc and Sémillon. These grapes have been planted in the Cape for centuries. Cartology has become our staple offering.  It serves as a poster child for our project, and also seems to have become a flag bearer for Cape heritage wine in general.

Vineyards

As a rule, the Cartology parcels are dry farmed bushvines, with a minimum age of thirty five years, although most are between forty and fifty years old.  Average yields for these parcels is around three tons/Ha or around 20hl/Ha.

Cartology 2021 is 90% Chenin blanc and 10% Sémillon.  The Chenin comes from our parcels in the Skurfberg, Malmesbury, Perdeberg, Bottelary, Upper Blaauwklippen, False Bay and Tygerberg.  The Sémillon comes from the old La Colline block in Franschhoek.

Winemaking and Maturation

The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation took place in cement eggs, clay pots, foudres, or old barrels (various sizes). Fermentation of various parcels lasted anywhere between three weeks and eleven months. The wine was kept on lees for around twelve months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further five months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.

Tasting Notes

The nose is detailed and beautiful - ripe pear and sweet herbs, both citrus juice and rind. The palate is very pure and true, fine boned clarity, lovely proportions, no extra weight (unlike myself). This vintage shows good intensity and saline length. For me, the key word this vintage is purity. This wine is already drinking well in its youth, but will reward maturation. Winemaking and Maturation

Technical Details

Varieties: 90% Chenin Blanc, 10% Sémillon

Alcohol: 13.11% RS: 1.46 g/litre TA: 5.63 g/litre pH: 3.35

Wine of origin: Western Cape

Bottling: May 2021

The Name: Cartology means the study of maps or charts. It could not be a more perfect name for this wine. Not only because of our endeavours to search for and find these special old vineyards, but also because the wine itself can be seen as a vinous map or tapestry of the Cape.