Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Swartland 2024
A refined Chenin Blanc with aromas of tropical fruit, pear and green apple leading to a delightfully fresh palate layered with minerality and a fleshy, lingering finish.
Leeuwenkuil is situated in the triangle between Malmesbury, Paarl and Durbanville. The Atlantic Ocean lies 20 miles to the west and this has a significant cooling and moderating effect on the Mediterranean climate. The rolling hills average around 140 metres above sea level, however, the superior influence on the wine is from the various soil formations, namely shale, schist, granite and iron stone. These ancient soils vary greatly in the percentage of clay, mineral content and organic matter. This Chenin Blanc is from a combination of these soils, which adds layers of fruit and complexity. The oldest vineyards are low-density bush vines, which handle the dryland conditions the best, while more recent plantings are low-density and trellised, which enable mechanisation. A mixed cover crop is planted during early winter and ploughed in mid spring. All pruning, suckering and harvesting take place by hand. Exposure to spring and summer winds create a healthy environment with little intervention needed to keep the vines healthy.
The grapes underwent whole bunch pressing to extract as few lees and phenols as possible, followed by an overnight cold settle to clear the juice, which was racked to stainless steel vats. Wild yeast enabled fermentation at 20°C, the higher temperature imparting a creamy mouthfeel. Post fermentation lees contact took place until bottling.
| RRP | £14.99 |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13% |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Subregion | Swartland |
| Grapes | Chenin Blanc 100% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards is the most southerly estate in Swartland and its history dates to 1693, when the farming focussed on livestock, grain and vineyards, making it a valuable stop-over for travelling parties to and from Cape Town. The banks of the Klapmuts River, a small stream running through the farm, used to shelter Cape Mountain Lions, from which the estate’s name Leeuwenkuil (Lion's Den) derived. In 1850, the Dreyer family bought the farm, and it is run by seventh generation Willie Snr and his wife Emma. Willie has significantly invested in planting vineyards and today Leeuwenkuil is the largest vineyard in the Cape Coastal area. With a lack of sustainable irrigation water, most of the vineyards are dry-farmed and have a very low carbon footprint. Of the 1,200 hectares under vine, 100 hectares are organic, while the rest is sustainably cultivated. Leeuwenkuil built a state-of-the-art winery which vinified their first grapes in 2020, producing Swartland wines of distinction and character.
