Cape Heritage and The Loire
Timed Online Auction, 1 - 12 August 2024
Cape Heritage - White Wines
About the SessionThe Cape Heritage White Wine Session features the noble variety, Chenin Blanc, known for its versatility and fruit intensity. South Africa has the oldest Chenin Blanc vines in the world and produces long-aging, diverse and fine wines.
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About this Item
Richard Kelley MW, their UK distributor, has said before that he doesn’t sell their wine, he simply allocates it. The 2018 vintage, auctioned off in 2021, was the last vintage ever produced and this, their debut vintage and first single vineyard release, is incredibly difficult to find in the market today.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
'2012 is intriguing & expressive - of what? Surely of the resurrected Bottelary Hills chenin vines which yield juice so sparingly. A little earthier than Cartology, perhaps more depth & richness, similar purity & supple ease. Intense, but no exaggeration or ingratiation. Both need time; decant now.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2014, 5*
'Great engraved label and lots of fun. Chewy end.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Jun 2014)
'The debut 2012 Radio Lazarus is pure Chenin Blanc and is a wine that readers should “tune in” for. It is their first single vineyard release, …though by all accounts this parcel took months to locate. It comes from vines perched on top of the Bottelary Hills at around 400 meters: dry farmed Chenin Blanc planted in 1978 that had been sold off in bulk. Chris actually made a small quantity of 2011, though not enough to be commercialized and yet he found the potential evident. (Incidentally, the name comes from the fact that the vineyard is overlooked by a radio mast and “Lazarus” who was raised from the dead, since the vines were due to be grubbed up the year that Chris discovered them.) It has a superbly defined bouquet with wax resin, vanilla creams, pineapple, sunflower seed and orange blossom that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is well-balanced with a fine line of acidity. It is an unpretentious Chenin Blanc that is deceptively understated on the entry, but it builds in the mouth to a lovely mango, pineapple and white pepper-tinged finish. The Radio Lazarus …constitutes a superb offering from Chris and Suzaan Alheit.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 93/100 (Oct 2013)