Vineyards
Situated on a high ridge in the heart of the Paardeberg, Broom Ridge is home to 20 Ha of mature dry farmed bushvine Chenin Blanc. The soil is pure decomposed granite, yielding wines of clarity and focus. Our vineyards were planted between 1972 and 1985 on various slopes, some facing East, some West, some North. This gives us a palette of options to work with to make our best possible wine from the property each vintage. These vines are our pride and joy. Their roots go deep, grabbing life out of the granite, humming their secret tune, calling you near.
Technical Details
Varieties:
100% Chenin Blanc (Bushvines)
100% Chenin Blanc (Bushvines)
| Wine of origin | Swartland (Paardeberg) |
|---|---|
| Production | 5251 bottles |
| Bottling | June 1 2020 |
| Alcohol | 13.22% |
|---|---|
| RS | 1.1 g/litre |
| TA | 6.2 g/litre |
| PH | 3.28 |
Broom Ridge is a rough translation of the Afrikaans name Besemgoedkop, a natural feature at the top of the ridge. We wanted a name that would signify the specific place, rather than an idea or philosophy.
Winemaking and Maturation
The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice is very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation in cement eggs and old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasted for about one month. The wine was kept on lees for around twelve months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further six months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.
Tasting Notes
Like its predecessor Fire by Night, Broom Ridge is the tightest most estrained of our Chenin bottlings, usually taking a couple of years to show some of its potential. Trust me though, the bud will burst and the flower with open. This wine is coiled up now, bristling with lime and thatch, elderflower, and sweet herbs. The palate is racy and pure, slightly pithy and saline.
