Hoe-Steen, Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2024

Hoe-Steen in Afrikaans translates as “High Chenin” – a reference to the gnarly old vines that have been wind-battered in this site and appear to be lurching out of the earth! Planted in 1968, this vineyard is planted with an old clone of Chenin which gives bigger berries. The 2024 is a sweeter fruited, fuller bodied and more powerful expression than the norm, offering golden fruits, apples and herbs with a slight bitter twist adding interest. Hoe-Steen is an iron-rich red clay site planted in 1968 on the western side of Malmesbury. The extreme wind during flowering clipped yields and has resulted in the smallest bottling ever, just 700L, equivalent to exactly 999 bottles.