Original price was: £24.98.£19.99Current price is: £19.99.
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CELLAR INFORMATION Wines are fermented naturally in seasoned barrels and aged sur lie for 9 months. VINEYARD INFORMATION These dryland bush vines planted in 1985 and grown in Darling are an epitome of old South African bush vine Chenin blanc.
| Wine Type | White |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Subregion | Stellenbosch |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Brand | Natte Valleij |
| Cultivar | Chenin Blanc |
| Appellation | Stellenbosch |
| Bottle Size | 75cl |
| Pack Size | 1x75cl |
| Pack Type | Loose Bottles |
| Alcohol Percentage | 13.00 |
| Duty Status | Duty Paid |
| Availability | Immediate |
| Rating Agencies | JancisRobinson.com |
The Axle Chenin Blanc is made by Alex Milner of Natte Valleij winery from grapes sourced from a dryland old bush vine certified Darling heritage block planted in 1985 on decomposed granite soils. Made in a very minimalist, low intervention manner without losing any of its fine wine integrity, this wine is a classy textural style of Chenin Blanc. The grapes were basket pressed and allowed to settle for 24 hours, then racked into old 225 litre oak barrels with careful addition of fine lees sediment to each barrel. After a natural fermentation, the wine received regular batonnage until late May. Aged in barrel over winter, the wine was bottled in the Spring after 9 months. In the glass, the wine shimmers with a translucent golden yellow straw intensity, revealing rich exotic aromatics of incense, potpourri, grapefruit marmalade, yellow peach, dried apricots and attractive hints of stem ginger. The addition of the fine lees really adds another dimension of texture and complexity to the wine, lending an almost Sauternes-like breadth and opulence to the nose. The palate is equally plush, glycerol and broad but with a majestic coolness and creamy harmony that allows delicate notes of tangy apricot, peach and dried guava to linger on the long, intense dry granitic finish. This is another magnificent creation from this regal old vine Darling Chenin Blanc vineyard and undoubtedly a wine that is going to woo its already sizeable cult following. Drink on release and over the next 5 to 8+ years. – Greg Sherwood MW.
Natte Valleij, a historic family farm in Stellenbosch run by winemaker Alex Milner, has received critical acclaim for his site specific Cinsault from various pockets of extraordinary old vine parcels across the Cape. Tamlyn Currin writes: “It was the first time I’d tasted Cinsault. It was the first time I actually understood the variety. It was a lightning strike.” Together with his stellar Axle Chenin Blanc from Darling. Tamlyn writes: “Alex Milner pushes the edges of possibility and beauty. He always takes my breath away. Surely this cannot be £20?!” The stage has been set, heroing the adopted heritage grapes of South Africa, finally allowing them freedom of expression. As well as our very own, native Pinotage – Alex and his Natte Valleij wines represent the spirit of the Cape and we’d strongly advise you visit him and his wines during Cape Wine.
