Plat'Bos, Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2021

Introducing the fourth vintage of the Plat’bos Chenin Blanc, planted right next to the Skaliekop vineyard in decomposed granite. Planted in 1981 on the Paardebosch farm, this vineyard is an important component in both the main Chenin Blanc and Aristargos and it will continue to do so. “We have been farming this vineyard since winter 2013 and it has been a pillar in our granite approach towards our white wines. Grapes were harvested in the first part of February, being one of the earliest Chenin Blanc vineyards we work with, planted on a northern slope. Harvesting took place over three picking dates and all lots were fermented and aged separately.” Quite a restrained, discreet bouquet of flowers and red apples leads in to an absolutely bell-clear palate awash with cooling, crystalline citrus fruits, chalk and minerals, a touch of wax and spice, immensely taut and persistent – this positively reverberates on the finish.