Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc

Afkomstig uit vier top-terroirs in de Coastal Region.
Geurt innemend naar rijp tropisch fruit, honing, meloen en zoetige vanille van het hout. De smaak is sappig en rijk, met heerlijk frisse zuren.  

The grapes for this distinctive Chenin Blanc are hand-picked from characterful and genuinely unique old bush vines specifically blended from Cape Town. It features vibrant tropical fruit flavours with hints of honey and oak spice on the finish.

The Bernard Series was named after Bernard Podlashuk, visionary co-founder of the Bellingham brand and maverick winemaker. Never quite satisfied to be just ordinary, he is recognised for his daring vision, sheer audacity and unabated drive that helped place South African wine on the map. The legend of his tenacity and innovative flair lives on through the Bernard Series, Bellingham’s premium range of handcrafted wines.

In the Vineyard:

Planted in 1983, this cooler climate Wine of Origin: Cape Town is a rare find Chenin Blanc. One of the very first old vine focused wines, this Single vineyard is unirrigated and rich with minerality. It boasts great water holding capacity and carries a low yield on the East facing slope with different clones and being exposed to cool afternoon sea breezes from Table Bay and False Bay.

In the Cellar:

Harvested at two ripening levels to add complexity, the grapes are hand picked with a larger portion being 100% naturally fermented in barrel and Foudre which adds freshness to the wine. The barrels and Foudre are individually cooled to the optimum fermentation temperature. This allows for slower and longer fermentation that combined with the cooler climate enhances the fruit expression in the wine and good integration between the wine and oak. After fermentation the wine is left on its lees and botonnaged monthly until blending and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Colour: Yellow with green tint.
Nose: Straw, pineapple, Stone fruit, green apple, ripe lime, tropical fruit, oak spice.
Palate: Fresh, mineral, good texture, length, fruit dense finish subtle oak integration. Stone fruit on the palate, melon, peach, green apple.