One of the newest producers in Stellenbosch’s Polkadraai appellation, Le Chant, has released the third vintage of its Chenin Blanc, with the wine from the 2023 vintage once again underscoring Polkadraai’s ability to produce excellence from this mainstay Cape variety.
“2023 was known as the year of two wine vintages in the Cape winelands,” says Petri Venter, Le Chant winemaker, “namely the period before the rain, and the period thereafter. Of course, if one had real grit, you could make it three for those farmers who harvested during the rain!”
As an early ripening cultivar, Chenin Blanc on Le Chant was picked after a cool, mild growing season which continued into the early summer.
“The fruit got longer hang-time, leading to expressive flavours in the grapes with developed sugars off-set by energetic, brisk acidity,” says Venter. “This made it a dream year for Chenin Blanc quality, and I am just glad we could pick well before the rains came in March as this would have diluted the brilliant fruit.”
Once picked, the grapes were crushed and the juice fermented in small stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels ensuring both bright fruit notes and a solid stroke of texture from the wood component.
“After fermenting, further aging was done for eight months in a three-way combination of old oak barrels, stainless steel and cement tank,” says Venter. “Chenin Blanc offers such a brilliant ability to present diverse flavour and textural nuances, so why only be limited to one vessel? I find that these three components used for the eight months’ aging gives structure and depth, while at the same time allowing for freshness and clarity to show.”
This wine features a full, rich palate characterised by layered aromas of stone fruit, orange blossom, and a hint of white apple. It maintains a harmonious interplay between oak, acidity, and fresh minerality on the mid-palate.
The real hero of Le Chant’s wines, however, is the farm’s Polkadraai terroir. “South to south-easterly facing vineyards ensure constant exposure to the ocean breezes, ample sunlight exposure and soils of decomposed granite where vineyards have grown for centuries make, for me, this region stand-out as one of Stellenbosch’s finest,” says Venter.
Previously known as Eikenhof farm founded in 1824, Le Chant is now owned by the Oddo vins et Domaines from France, which is also the proprietor of Taaibosch and Pink Valley, as well as various wineries in Italy and France.
Categories: Le Chant Wines
