Vineyards
Hemelrand is situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360 meters above sea level, on gravelly clay, and Sandstone. The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, and Muscat Blanc a etit grain. However, as mentioned the proportions of the different grapes produced significantly varies each vintage. Viticulturally speaking this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity.
Technical Details
Varieties:
32% Chardonnay, 25% Roussanne, 25% Chenin, 13% Verdelho, 5% Muscat
32% Chardonnay, 25% Roussanne, 25% Chenin, 13% Verdelho, 5% Muscat
| Wine of origin | Hemel & Aarde Ridge (Estate Wine) |
|---|---|
| Production | 8246 bottles |
| Bottling | Jun 25 2021 |
| Alcohol | 13.11% |
|---|---|
| RS | 2.5 g/litre |
| TA | 6.53 g/litre |
| PH | 3.31 |
Vine Garden aptly describes both the attention to detail in small scale viticulture on Hemelrand as well as the handful of grape varieties represented in the vineyard.
Winemaking and Maturation
The grapes were picked early in the morning, sorting in the vineyard, and whole bunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (we like cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation took place in old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasted for about two months, except for the Roussanne which fermented for about nine months as usual. 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
The wine gleams in the glass a lovely straw colour. The nose is exotic, showing stone fruit and talcum, lemon rind and baking spice. The wine has an absolutely towering presence on the palate, robust flavours cut through by rapier acidity. A very invigorating drink.
