Brookdale Estate Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2023
Richly textured with layers of pear, golden citrus and a hint of honeycomb enveloping a fleshy palate with a core of salty, mineral freshness and a long generous finish.
This wine is made from old vine Chenin Blanc, which was planted in 1985. The vineyard is situated at the foot of the Du Toitskloof Pass and is planted in stony, decomposed shale and granite soils. 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.
Minimal winemaking techniques allowed this stony terroir to shine through. The grapes were hand-picked at different stages to achieve optimal ripeness and balance. The fruit was pre-cooled and gently whole bunch pressed before spontaneous fermentation and partial malolactic conversion took place for added elegance, and complexity. The wine was matured for 11 months in 500-litre French oak barrels, with eight months lees ageing in 2,000-litre Stockinger Foudres. The wine spent an additional six months in bottle prior to release.
| RRP | £31.25 |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Subregion | Paarl |
| Grapes | Chenin Blanc 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 2.6 |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Diam |
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.
