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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Cape of Good Hope Citrusdal Mountain Van Lill & Visser Chenin Blanc 2010 90 Points

Cape of Good Hope Citrusdal Mountain Van Lill & Visser Chenin Blanc 2010 90 Points



From 2 specific block, on low rainfall Skurfberg mountain, red sand on clay, un irrigated, fairly high elevation by Western Cape standards, owned by Basie van Lill of Arbeidseind and Jozua Visser of Oudam.

Basie Van Lill Block - 32.07.14.70 S / 18.40.54.45 E - Elevation 541 m
Jozua Visser Block - 32.04.03.34 S / 18.42.50.88 E - Elevation 439 m


The ungrafted aged bush vines, averaging 50 & 60 years old, yielding less than 4 ton / ha, further benefits from the proximity of Lambert's Bay, resulting in high natural acidity (7 TA).

"Clear, day bright pale straw with slight green tinge, medium concentration and mideium viscosity, no gas or sediment, impressive luminosity.

Clean, medium plus intensity, combination of ripe Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples, honey, acacia flowers, dried camomille, and nutmeg spice, white pebbles minerality, delicately oaked, fragrant profile.

Dry, high acidity, medium plus alcohol, fresh and precise, very pure, lime notes with stony fruits such as white peaches, elegant, nutty, glossy mouth feels, medium plus complexity, long lenght, pure mineral core.

The winemaking was fairly classic, inoculated, followed by maturation in 2nd and 3rd fill 600 L barrels, aged on fine lees for 9 months, no stiring or rolling on barrels, no Malo, the pH is quite low, at 3.12 will ensure many years of development ahead (+/- 9 years), drinking well now, but will be better from 2015+, until 2019+.

Only 6500 bottles made at around R80 it's an amazing bargain with a great story.

Served decanted / aerated at +/- 12 degrees Celsius with grilled crayfish/langoustines/lobster/giant prawns / Scampi with chive beurre blanc, extra virgin SA olive oilve and fresh limes!