Opstal Eenvoud 2023

CULTIVARS
Chenin blanc

IN THE CELLAR
From the 2023 vintage, the second pick of this vineyard, fermented and matured in a 3000L French oak oval foudre proved to best express the complexity of this special site. We also added a small 5% skin-fermented portion from the same block, matured in the same vessel for I0 months before bottling, Which adds texture and depth. One of my most interesting learnings from this old vine Chenin is how the analytical acidity measurement is not always reflected on taste as there are a higher perceived freshness and elegance in this wine even though the acidity is quite low.

THE VINEYARD
Over time we have come to learn that this Old Vine certified vineyard offers many different attributes throughout ripening, so we picked the vineyard in multiple pickings over the span of 3 weeks. The aim of this Eenvoud (translated to simplicity) is to best show the purity of our 1982 planted vineyard with an old school SN1061 clone.

Opstal Bergsteen 2023

CULTIVARS
Chenin blanc

“From a vineyard planted in 2006 at 365m above sea level, the highest on the farm. Matured for 10 months in old oak. The nose shows subtle notes of pear, peach, green apple and talcum powder on the nose while the palate is delicate with pure fruit and fresh acidity before a pithy finish. ” Christian Eedes

IN THE CELLAR
From the 2023 vintage, the second pick of this vineyard, fermented and matured in a 3000L French oak oval foudre proved to best express the complexity of this special site. We also added a small 5% skin-fermented portion from the same block, matured in the same vessel for I0 months before bottling, Which adds texture and depth. One of my most interesting learnings from this old vine Chenin is how the analytical acidity measurement is not always reflected on taste as there are a higher perceived freshness and elegance in this wine even though the acidity is quite low.

IN THE VINEYARD
Over time we have come to learn that this Old Vine certified vineyard offers many different attributes throughout ripening, so we picked the vineyard in multiple pickings over the span of 3 weeks. The aim of this Eenvoud (translated to simplicity) is to best show the purity of our 1982 planted vineyard with an old school SN1061 clone.

Carl Everson Chenin blanc 2023

CULTIVARS
Chenin blanc

“Still a little tight when I tasted it – some of the 2023 whites are like that – this foudre and old barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc uses grapes from a vineyard planted in 1982. Picked over two weeks, it has flavours of aniseed, citrus and yellow apple and the focus and concentration to develop in bottle. 2025-29” Tim Atkin

IN THE CELLAR
These batches then ferment and age in a combination of 400L and 500L older French oak barrels, large (3000L) French oak Foudres and concrete vessels to give as best an expression of a total vineyard picture as possible. A 4% skin fermented component was included in the final blend to add texture and tension in the wine.

IN THE VINEYARD
The ripening season was normal and without extremes – a cold and wet winter followed by moderate temperatures through the start of summer. On the 28′ of February though we had a massive down-pour of rain which pushed our harvest date a little earlier on this vineyard as I wanted most of the fruit in before then. I believe the somewhat forced earlier pick together with the use of larger oak than before and coupled with only partial completion of malolactic fermentation resulted in a wine that is more balanced. We always do multiple pickings of this vineyard to capture both freshness and complexity and different stages.