Chenin Blanc, 'Die Agteros'

“Our oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard, planted in 1982, was used to make this wine. For the first 20 years its fruit was sent to the local co-op and used for rather modest dry white blends. To be honest it’s an ugly, gnarly looking vineyard and year after year its removal was contemplated, but as soon as it was used to make wine under the Joostenberg label its quality was recognized. We now care for this vineyard lovingly every year. The name is derived from the Afrikaans saying “agteros kom ook in die kraal” (translated as “the hind ox also gets there eventually”) because the vineyard took a long time to prove itself and now it’s our favourite vineyard.” –Tyrrel Myburgh, proprietor

The vineyard is situated on the south western edge of the Paarl region. The climate is Mediterranean – i.e. cold, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Soils are a combination of decomposed granite and Malmesbury shale. In order to optimize the influence of terroir the vineyard is managed according to organic principles and is dry-farmed. Vine age is 33 years. This wine is certified as ‘organic’ by Control Union.

The grapes were all hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed. The resulting juice was fermented, using ambient yeast, in old oak barrels and then left on the lees to mature for 10 months. Full malolactic fermentation occurred.

Resources