Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2022
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc has a molten buttery gold colour and bright lemon rind rim. Soft aromas of dried apricots and ripe tropical fruit emerge from the glass in waves, with an oak and vanilla undertone. Juicy acidity and round flavours on the medium-bodied palate. White flesh peach flavours with generous creaminess and a stroke of almond paste.
100% Chenin Blanc. From dryland, semi-trellised 36-year-old vines in a single vineyard on the slopes of the Durbanville Hills. The landscape is renowned for old geological formations and the soil for Malmesbury shale. Cold ocean breezes temper the heat in this area, enabling the berries to hang on the vine for longer. This block has a Certified Heritage Vineyard status from the Old Vines Project, which honours vines that are older than 35-years-old.
Hand-harvesting the grapes in 10kg lug boxes. The grapes cool first before hand-sorting, destemming and crushing. Skin contact lasts 6 hours and the free-run juice drains off to settle overnight before inoculation. Fermentation takes place in a combination of 300L, 400L, 500L and 2500L tight-grain French oak barrels. The wine matures for 14 months in barrel, 60% new and 40% second fill.