The diverse wine-growing region of the Western Cape offers Fleur du Cap the perfect canvas for crafting wines that express the essence of a varietal. Masterful fruit selection combined with the creativity of the winemakers results in high-quality wines.
The grapes come from three different vineyards in Darling, Agter Paarl, and Simondium. The Darling vineyard is nine years old and cultivated under dryland conditions. The soil is decomposed granite, and the vineyard overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The Agter Paarl vineyard is a 29-year-old vineyard with dry vines on slate soils with excellent water retention. The Simondium vineyard is located on the middle slopes of the Simonsberg and was planted in 2008. The floors are also made of granite.
The grapes are harvested by hand. After crushing, the juice is cleared, followed by fermentation at a controlled temperature between fifteen and seventeen degrees Celsius. Twenty percent of the wine is fermented and aged in French oak barrels, while eighty percent is unwooded. The wine was kept on the lees to add weight to the palate and increase complexity. Before bottling, the wine was fined and filtered.
The Fleur du Cap Chenin Blanc from the Essence du Cap series is brilliantly clear with greenish reflections. The nose reveals fresh aromas of various tropical fruits, spiced with a hint of oak. The palate also initially reveals tropical notes, followed by citrus and buttery notes, resulting from the oak. This is because 20 percent of the wine is fermented and aged in French oak. The Essence du Cap Chenin Blanc has a long, crisp finish and is a very approachable wine. The Essence du Cap Chenin Blanc is a perfect complement to seafood such as crab, oysters, and mussels. It is also a good choice with Thai and light chicken dishes.
