Badenhorst The Golden Slopes Chenin Blanc 2022

A.A. Badenhorst makes The Golden Slopes in the Swartland, the dry, sun-baked region north of Cape Town where cousins Adi and Hein Badenhorst revived an abandoned estate. The wine is Chenin Blanc, long the workhorse white of the Cape and now its most respected, made here from old vines on chalky, well drained soil. Low yields from mature vines give concentrated fruit, while the chalk and coastal influence keep the acidity firm despite the warmth. The wine is fermented and aged for twelve months in foudre, large old oak casks that add texture through lees contact and a slow, gentle oxygen exchange rather than oak flavour. This handling builds breadth and a savoury depth while keeping the fruit clear. The colour is bright straw, with ripe pear, quince and beeswax on the nose over a stony base. The palate is dry and textured, with orchard fruit, a creamy lees weight and a long, saline finish held together by fresh acidity. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.