De Trafford Straw Wine 2021

De Trafford is a Stellenbosch estate in South Africa's Coastal Region, and this Straw Wine is a single-variety Chenin Blanc made in the old vin de paille style. The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness and laid out on straw drying racks in 70 percent shade for roughly three weeks. As the bunches dry they turn towards raisins, the straw and shade slowly drawing out moisture so the sugars, acids and flavours concentrate while the fruit avoids the burnt edge of full sun drying. The shrivelled grapes are then pressed to a small yield of intensely sweet juice. The wine is fermented and aged in oak barrels, where measured oxygen contact adds a nutty, marzipan layer and rounds the texture. Chenin Blanc is the key, because its naturally high acidity keeps a wine this sweet fresh and balanced. The colour is deep gold. The nose carries honey, dried apricot and citrus peel with an almond, marzipan note from the barrel. The palate is rich and sweet but lifted by firm acidity, the dried stone fruit running into a long, clean finish rather than turning heavy. Serve chilled at around 9 to 11 degrees in a small glass. It is a fine match for fruit tarts and blue cheese.