critic reviews
The Alheit Vineyards 2024 Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Hemelrand Vine Garden is a field-style blend of 28% Chardonnay, 32% Roussanne, 25% Chenin Blanc, 11% Verdelho and 4% Muscat a Petits Grains, grown at roughly 360 meters above sea level. Aromatically, the wine leans into white flowers and lifted perfumes, with freshness taking precedence over weight. Aware that acidity from this exposed site can verge on shrill, Chris Alheit chose to harvest at 13% potential alcohol, a calculated gamble that brings balance and flow to the palate. Fresh and precise, the wine gains appeal through the interplay between its buoyant acidity and its floral, slightly exotic, bouquet.
The 2024 Hemelrand Vine Garden comes from Hemel en Aarde Ridge at 360m altitude. It has a gorgeous bouquet with lemon balm, orange zest and just peach skin, absolutely beautiful. The palate has exquisite balance, a little more weight than the Chenins, a touch of orange pith and lemongrass, with a touch of white pepper on the finish. Real tension throughout this white blend. This really gains harmony with aeration in the glass and manifests a little more saltiness that urges you back for more.