Babylon's Peak Viognier/Roussanne 2022
This mix of Rhône varieties produces a wonderfully textured wine, its natural richness supporting apricot, floral and musky aromas, while still finishing neat and dry.
These grapes come from relatively recent plantings on weathered granite soils. They are pruned for low yields, and undergo green harvesting just before veraison. The grapes were hand-picked.
The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed. The free-run juice was fermented at low temperature in stainless steel tanks until near the end of fermentation. It was then racked to older 300-litre French oak barrel to complete the last twenty percent of fermentation, and spent four months on lees before bottling.
| RRP | £18.75 |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Swartland |
| Grapes | Viognier 73%, Roussanne 27% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 2 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Babylon’s Peak is both a stalwart and a relative newcomer within the resurgent Swartland winemaking scene. Stephan Basson’s great-grandfather established the farm in 1919, and wine was made in the old cellar here until 1948. It then fell into disuse until Stephan renovated the cellar and recommenced production. The vineyards, some of the highest in the region at up to 700 metres, lie on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, and have proven especially suitable for Chenin Blanc and Rhône varieties. The wines have a vivid purity, an almost crystalline concentration that belies Swartland’s hot climate just as the prices defy its hype.
