Technical Analysis
DeMorgenzon’s Reserve Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines that were planted in 1972 in decomposed granite soils.
Tasting note
On the nose, the wine opens with aromas of ripe peach and apricot with a fragrant floral undertone. This is layered with subtle notes of toasted almond and a hint of vanilla. The palate is generous with the creamy texture working beautifully with the vibrant acidity. Layers of pear, honeyed citrus, and Golden Delicious apple. The oak influence is evident but impeccably integrated, offering nuances of nutmeg and a hint of flint and smokiness that adds depth and dimension to the wine. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a lasting impression of well-balanced richness and finesse.
Vintage conditions
A mild but wet winter ensured optimal soil conditions moving into the growing season. A relatively cool spring, interspersed with some rain, led to a delayed bud break and in some isolated instances uneven flowering. Some warm weather in January helped alleviate any early season unevenness and the continued moderate weather the farm experienced meant that the harvest was progressing at an even pace and that the winery team was able to give the utmost attention to each parcel arriving at the winery
Vinification details
The grapes were picked in three different passes in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. Fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (20% new), using indigenous yeasts, with about 20% of the volume completing malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 10 months, without batonage.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 95 pts
Vinous: 93 pts
IWSC: Silver 92 pts
Technical Analysis
DeMorgenzon’s Reserve Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines that were planted in 1972 in decomposed granite soils.
Tasting note
This show stopping white displays effusive aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into opulent flavours of pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It’s a world class wine offering that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouth-watering acidity.
Vintage conditions
On the back of a cold and wet winter, the 2020 growing season began very early, with homogenous budburst and even shoot growth. Summer was relatively mild, without the heatwaves often experienced in the Cape. The resultant crop retained high levels of natural acidity and abundant concentration of flavour. Particularly exceptional are the white wines of 2020.
Vinification details
The grapes were picked in three different passes in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. Fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (20% new), using indigenous yeasts, with about 20% of the volume completing malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 10 months, without batonage.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 95 pts
Decanter: 92 pts
IWC: Silver
Technical Analysis
DeMorgenzon’s Reserve Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines that were planted in 1972 in decomposed granite soils.
Tasting note
This show stopping white displays effusive aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into opulent flavours of pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It’s a world class wine offering that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouth-watering acidity.
Vintage conditions
2019 was a cooler vintage than the previous hot and dry years. Whilst the vineyards benefited from decent winter rainfall there were some latent stress effects from the previous year’s drought conditions. This resulted in some uneven budding and careful harvesting was necessary to achieve a total pick of optimum ripeness. Cool conditions during the early part of the ripening resulted in high acidities and low pH, resulting in wines that are fresh, precise and bright.
Vinification details
The grapes were picked in three different passes in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. Fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (20% new), using indigenous yeasts, with about 20% of the volume completing malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 10 months, without batonage.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 95 pts
Neil Martin: 92 pts
IWC: Gold & Regional Trophy
Technical Analysis
DeMorgenzon’s Reserve Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines that were planted in 1972 in decomposed granite soils.
Tasting note
This show-stopping white displays effusive aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into opulent flavours of pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It’s a world class wine that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouth-watering acidity.
Vintage conditions
2018 was a dry vintage in the Cape. Thunderstorms in early spring added a lot of nitrogen to the soils resulting in very healthy canopies going into the growing season. The daytime temperatures during the ripening period were cooler than those experienced in the very hot 2016 and 2017 vintages, with relatively cool evenings. Conditions were very dry though, with vine stress management being key to success. Fruit harvesting tended to be very early in 2018, with a focus on bringing fruit into the winery with lower sugar levels and lower pH levels.
Vinification details
The grapes were picked in three different passes in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. Fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (20% new), using indigenous yeasts, with about 20% of the volume completing malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 10 months, without any bâtonnage.
AWARDS
Neil Martin: 93 pts
Technical Analysis
DeMorgenzon’s Reserve Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines that were planted in 1972 in decomposed granite soils.
Tasting note
This show-stopping white displays effusive aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into opulent flavours of pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It’s a world class wine that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouth-watering acidity.
Vintage conditions
2017 was another hot and dry vintage in the Cape. Although the day time temperatures were warm, evening temperatures were much cooler than normal resulting in wines with incredible weight and texture, yet with great acidity and length. The dryness of the season resulted in minimal disease pressure with fruit arriving at the winery in very good condition. The grapes were handpicked and selected in the early morning at between 21º and 22º balling.
Vinification details
The grapes were picked in three different passes in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. Fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (25% new), using indigenous yeasts, with about 30% of the volume completing malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 11 months, without any topping or bâtonnage.
AWARDS
Platter: 5*
DWWA: Platinum
Tim Atkin MW: 95 pts
Technical Analysis
DeMorgenzon’s Reserve Chenin Blanc comes from low-yielding vines that were planted in 1972 in decomposed granite soils.
Tasting note
This show-stopping white displays effusive aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into opulent flavours of pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It’s a world class wine that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouth-watering acidity.
Vintage conditions
2016 was a very early season with early flowering dates followed by rapid ripening in the early part of the summer. Weather conditions during the ripening period of the Chenin Blanc were cool to begin with, with very warm conditions close to harvest, however night time temperatures remained cool, preserving acidity. Fruit quality was perfect with no disease. Optimally ripe fruit with a small percentage of raisins and no botrytis was harvested.
Vinification details
The grapes were picked in four different passes between 23rd and 28th January in order to achieve optimum ripeness and balance in the final wine. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. Fruit was cooled down and then gently pressed, whole bunch, and the juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes. Fermentation occurred naturally in French oak barrels (25% new), using indigenous yeasts. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 11 months, without any topping or bâtonnage.
AWARDS
IWC: Gold & trophies
Tim Atkin MW: 95 pts
