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Botanica - Mary Delany - Chenin Blanc

2022
Producer
Botanica
Blend
0% Chenin Blanc
Country
South Africa
Region
Olifants River
Appellation
Citrusdial Mountain
UPC
6 009802 01870 5
White Wine
Verified Stock
91100-22

Tasting notes

Complex and elegant, with layers of pure, concentrated pear, citrus and stone fruit flavors, mouth-watering acidity and a tangy, mineral core.

Description

The Mary Delany Collection is crafted from grapes sourced from unique vineyard sites throughout the Cape. Each of the labels depicts a botanical collage created by British artist Mary Delany. These remarkable works of art were hand crafted in the late 1700s using hundreds of tiny pieces of cut paper.

Vinification

The grapes for this wine were harvested at optimum ripeness, hand sorted, crushed and destemmed. The juice was immediately pressed and cold settled for 2 days at 10°C. Half was spontaneously fermented in stainless steel tanks and half was spontaneously fermented in 400 liter French barrels. After fermentation, the wine was left on the fine lees in stainless steel tanks/oak barrels for 9 months.

Estate

Founded in 2009 by owner and self-taught winemaker Ginny Povall, an intrepid American who fell in love with the beautiful Cape winelands and purchased Protea Heights farm in Stellenbosch’s Devon. Established in the late 1940s, Protea Heights was the first farm in South Africa to cultivate indigenous protea flowers commercially (South Africa’s national flower). Inspired by this horticultural history, it was only natural that Ginny would choose to develop her wine brands and labels with a botanical flair.

Today the estate boasts eight varieties of proteas (four of which are hybridized species unique to the property), largely destined for export to Europe. The 53 acre farm is planted with 24 acres of indigenous flowers, which bloom throughout the year and 12 acres of organically farmed, high density vineyards. Planted between 2009 and 2010, the estate vines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Albariño.