White, 2024
Limey and pithy and bright, with a touch of creamy old oak, which is the main driver of the wine from ageing perspective, the 2024 is medium to full bodied with integrated acidity and a background yellow and citrus fruited Chenin feeling. The racy Verdelho component brings real sizzle, making this wine a game of two halves. 2024 is the first year moving to a technical cork closure, making for mouthwatering, youthful tasting wines. 68% Chenin Blanc, 29% Verdelho and 2% Viognier aged in a combination of used oak, concrete and foudré for 11 months.
critic reviews
From the general Coastal Region, the Rall 2024 White is sourced mainly from Swartland with a portion from Stellenbosch and is a blend of 69% Chenin Blanc, 29% Verdelho and 2% Viognier. Linear and fresh, it shows clarity and drive with lovely texture and mouthfeel. Verdelho arrived with naturally high acidity and brings tension and balance, while the Chenin Blanc provides texture and structure. Fermentation and aging take place in foudre, small barrels and concrete, with each vineyard matched to a vessel according to whether the fruit shows more of a reductive or oxidative character. The granite and sandstone-derived soils of the Western Cape contribute both salinity and precision.
The 2024 White, Donovan Rall's Chenin-led blend aged in concrete, foudre and 500-litre barrels, has a taut and crisp, citrus peel and vervain-scented bouquet. The palate is very well balanced with a lightly spiced, pithy entry. Not quite as complex as the preceding vintage, but there is fine weight with an oily finish. Drink over the next decade.