Front Row Chenin Blanc/Roussanne 2024
This mix of Loire and Rhône varieties produces a wonderfully textured wine, the crisp but generous tropical flavours of Chenin Blanc complemented by the rich apricot, pear and floral character of Roussanne, finishing neat and dry.
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.
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 destemmed and lightly crushed. The free-run juice was fermented at low temperature in stainless steel tanks until near the end of fermentation. The wines were then racked to concrete tanks before blending and bottling.
