Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2023 is a wood-aged single vineyard Chenin Blanc from the Tygerberg Hills near Cape Town. What does single vineyard mean in this case? It means that the wine comes entirely from one specific plot, here planted between 1983 and 1985, which ensures pronounced terroir expression and concentration.
This Chenin Blanc is made as a blend of different barrel sizes and maturation levels, which makes it layered and complex without losing its freshness.
The wine comes from South Africa, from Cape Town, from the Tygerberg Hills.
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Location: Tygerberg Hills near Cape Town, directly influenced by the cold Atlantic Ocean.
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Planting year: Vineyard planted between 1983 and 1985, ensuring mature root systems and depth.
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Soil: Old Malmesbury shale suitable for dryland farming, contributing to concentration and minerality.
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Climate: The proximity to the cold ocean extends the ripening period and preserves natural freshness.
This combination of old vines, cool ocean influence, and shale soils gives the wine tension and texture.
The vinification focuses on complexity through selection and barrel diversity.
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Harvest: Hand-picked in 5 separate plots between March 3 and 15 to combine different ripeness levels.
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Pre-treatment: 6 hours of skin contact for extra structure, followed by overnight settling of the free-run juice.
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Fermentation: Fermentation in French oak barrels of 300L, 400L, 500L, and 2,500L, allowing for different wood influences.
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Aging: 10–12 months of barrel aging, with 50% new oak and the rest second fill.
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Alcohol: 14% alcohol supports the full, layered style.
By combining different barrel sizes, a Chenin Blanc is created that is structured like a blend but comes entirely from a single grape variety.
Chenin Blanc – Tygerberg, Cape Town
100% Chenin Blanc from a single vineyard. The grape combines ripe stone fruit with natural acidity and tolerates wood aging excellently.
