CHENIN BLANC SUR LIE

LAIBACH RESERVE Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2017

TECHNICAL DETAILS

VARIETAL	100 % Chenin Blanc
ALCOHOL	13.5 % vol.
TOTAL ACIDITY	5.5 g/l
pH	3.56
RESIDUAL SUGAR	1.5 g/l

TASTING NOTES

A new release of our first reserve white wine to join our premium Red offerings.
This wine took about 10 years to produce. We wanted to do something special
and unique to show that the world famous Simonsberg – Stellenbosch terroir
can also produce fantastic white wines. We choose Chenin because of its
versatility and uniqueness to South–Africa. Chenin is still the most planted
white variety around and we also planted quite a bit the last few years. It is a
variety that can really age well and therefore it fits in with our philosophy.
This wine is made from the oldest vineyard on the farm. Like all our vineyards
this one is 100% organically farmed. We used the skins a lot in making this
wine. We had 25 % fermenting on the skins with a sort of Carbonic maceration
technique for 24 days. Some grapes were crushed and we allowed 48 hours
skin contact. No additives were used and all fermentation was done in old
barrels (50%), concrete Nomblot style eggs (25%) and 25% in stainless. All
natural and absolutely no acid added. Fermentation lasted 3 to 200 days and
the wine was left on the primary sediment “sur lie” style without sulfur for 11
months. The components were racked and blended carefully in January and
the wine was bottled with very little filtration.
Refreshing colour with a sort of green, orange tint. A very exotic nose with
tropical, papaya and white peach in abundance. On the palate a lovely lingering
freshness with oodles of fruits and a bit of tannin. Polished palate with lime and
minerals quite evident. A very complex wine with lots of potential to age a few
years. This is as good as we can do. Enjoy!!