Brookdale Estate Mason Road Chenin Blanc 2024
Exuberant notes of juicy tropical fruits, apple purity and pear freshness are layered with salty minerality and creamy undertones, through to a lime-kissed finish.
The Mason Road Chenin Blanc is made from the oldest vines that could be salvaged when the estate was acquired, with blocks from 1985 and 1993 adding depth and concentration to the blend. Situated at the foot of the Du Toitskloof Pass, the vineyard is planted in granite-rich soils with clay and quartz. The clay element offers high water retention properties and releases much needed water during the warm summer months. The lowest part of the estate is at 220 metres above sea level, climbing to 330m at the highest part. At this altitude, the vines are exposed to strong winds that naturally reduce yields and offer a much-needed cooling influence in Paarl's warm, dry climate. The Chenin Blanc vines are trellised, and the vineyard is manually cultivated, with a commitment to sustainable farming. Natural predators are used in place of pesticides and the vines are hand-harvested.
The 1993 block of Chenin Blanc was picked in four batches at different degrees of ripeness. The pre-cooled fruit was destemmed, crushed, gently pressed and the free run juice was settled overnight. Fermentation took place in a combination of stainlesssteel tanks (85%) and old French oak barrels (15%). The final blend was made up after 11 months of ageing on the lees.
| RRP | £17.25 |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Subregion | Paarl |
| Grapes | Chenin Blanc 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 2.2 |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein Mountains in Paarl, Brookdale Estate produces wines as unexpected as they are enchanting. A true Cinderella story, Brookdale was once overgrown until the Rudd family recognised the potential and acquired the 67-hectare estate in 2015. Their vision was to produce fine, world-class wines, including interesting blends crafted from varietals that are somewhat ‘unusual’ in South Africa. These Mediterranean varietals, the distinctive Paarl terroir and creative winemaking techniques come together under the visionary hand of Tim Rudd and talented young winemaker Kiara Scott. Born on the Cape Flats, Kiara graduated from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Viticulture and Oenology and was selected for the prestigious CWG Protégé Programme. Consultant winemaker Duncan Savage recognised Kiara’s potential and appointed her as his assistant. Together, they created the maiden vintage of the Brookdale Chenin Blanc in 2017 which received global acclaim. Kiara officially took over the reins in 2019.
