Botha Kelder Amyah Chenin Blanc 2020
I asked my dear friend Abby, from My Boozy Kitchen, for a wine recommendation. This Chenin from the Breedekloof region (the place she calls home) was the absolute delight that she suggested. I don't often taste older South African Chenin Blanc...because why would I when there's a sea of young wines at my disposal. But the tertiary aromas and flavours to this Amyah have convinced me to set a few bottles aside for future me!
The Wine:
The medium gold colour presented with the truest straw aroma I've ever sniffed outside of a straw hat. Followed by honey, pineapples (fresh and dried), apples (dried and yellow), mangoes, plump sultanas, toffee, watered down brandy, and campfire smoke. Petrol, fresh mushrooms, and earthy tertiary aromas confirmed that this was a little older.
Despite being undeniably oak aged, aside from the smokiness, brandy, and maybe a whiff of vanilla, I couldn't put my finger on an *obvious oak descriptor...and I really liked that!
Medium bodied, with the tamest acidity I’ve ever experienced in a Chenin...yet, the droplets collecting in my cheeks had an electric pineapple zing to them, a longer finish, and all the tropical and dried fruit notes that I’d experienced on the nose.
There’s a righteous empty glass sniff too that confirms everything!
Viti & Vini:
Made from 34 year old 100% Chenin Blanc grown as dryland farmed bushvines in Fernwood soil (sandy with medium organic content) near the Breederiver in Breedekloof. Vineyard workers call this block of vines 'the island' or eiland in Afrikaans as, after heavy rainfall, the vineyard will be surrounded by water. However, this hadn't happened in the last 10-15 years (counting back from 2020).
The grapes destemmed and crushed, and clarified via flotation. 42% of the must was naturally fermented, 58% was inoculated. Both were fermented in larger 500 litre French oak barrels (35% new) for 25-28 days, undergoing malolactic conversion. Then matured on its lees for 10 months in barrel.
RS: 5.6g/L | ABV: 13.61 | Acid: 6.3g/lt | pH: 3.56
Final Thoughts:
Thank you to MyBoozyKitchen for this delicious recommendation! I interviewed her for Women's Month - and we talked about ‘influencing’, growing up in a different era, and her love for wine. You can read the interview here.
Also, a huge thanks to Hermanus Wine Village for their incredible service in getting this wine to me!
