Some of the grapes in this sublime blend come from the Johnsons’ Zevenrivieren farm high up in the Banghoek Valley in the northern part of this appellation.
The Zevenwacht The Tin Mine White 2014 is named for a tin mine which operated some years back in the area. It is a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 31% Chenin Blanc, 19% Viognier, & 5% Roussanne. The Chardonnay & Roussanne grapes were hand harvested from South Westerly facing vineyards on Zevenwacht (Polkadraai Hills), while the Viognier and Chenin Blanc were hand harvested from North-facing vineyards on Zevenrivieren (The Banghoek valley).
Winemaker Jacques Viljoen, his assistant Charles Lourens and their team lightly crushed the Chardonnay grapes and after pressing the juice was settled and racked to first and second fill 500l barrels. The Viognier and Chenin were whole-bunch pressed and racked to first, second and third fill French 500l barrels, where fermentation and then maturation took place for 8 months. 10% of the Chenin grapes and all of the Roussanne were pressed, settled and the clear juice was racked to stainless steel tanks. Cool tank fermentation has allowed outstanding expression of the wonderful fruit of this component. Extended post fermentation lees contact lent a mid-palate weight and a creamy texture. The wine was then blended and prepared for bottling.
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