Alheit Vineyards
Huilkrans 2019
Cape Heritage
About the SessionA selection of South Africa’s finest wines, inspired by our rich wine heritage and the unique character of the Cape Winelands. Chenin Blanc is celebrated for its remarkable versatility, producing an exceptional range of wine styles, particularly in South Africa, home to the oldest Chenin Blanc vines in the world. These historic vineyards continue to produce wines of great diversity, elegance, and ageing potential. The Pinotage selection showcases leading producers, all of whom have become consistent flag bearers for this proudly South African variety.
About this Item
The 2019 vintage across the elevated Citrusdal Mountain sites produced wines of outstanding purity and focused concentration, the drought shortened yields extracting remarkable intensity from old vines whose roots have grown deep into decomposed sandstone over four decades; Alheit Vineyards' 2019 Huilkrans earned 98 points from Tim Atkin MW and 95 points from Christian Eedes at Winemag.co.za.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
'All sourced from Jozua Visser's farm on Citrusdal Mountain, Huilkrans is a "deeper baritone" to the "tenor" of Magnetic North. Rich and textured, it has pear, subtle stone fruit and aniseed flavours, some tangerine and beeswax and a super taut, almost mouth-watering finish. The vines were planted between 1974 and 1984. Let's hope there's a preservation order on them. 2022-29' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 98/100
'The 2019 Huilkrans, pure Chenin Blanc matured in 12-year-old, 300-liter barrels and matured on the lees for 12 months, has a wonderful and expressive bouquet of orchard fruit infused with hints of Turkish delight and gâteau basque. The poised, harmonious palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and citrus peel flavors on the saline finish. Very classy and intellectual, as much about umami as taste.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 94/100 (Apr 2021)
'From Skurfberg Chenin Blanc. A striking nose of citrus, peach, dried herbs and baking spice plus a rather funky waxiness. With great depth of fruit and vibrant acidity, this is altogether more powerful and showy than other recent vintages. It's still extraordinarily complex and long, however.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100 (Jul 2020)
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