Alheit Vineyards
La Colline Vineyard 2018
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
La Colline is the name of a fruit farm on the southern slopes of the Dassenberg and is home to one of the true greats of Cape heritage vineyards. The vines were planted in 1936 by Antonie Roux, the grandfather of the current farmer Anton Roux. It's situated between 310 and 350m above sea-level on quartz rich sandstone and granite soil. During summer, these tightly planted bushvines form a wild looking mess of life and grapes. In winter they resemble a crowd of drunkards cartwheeling across the slope. It is a beautiful old thing.
These vines are related to the original vineyard material brought to the Cape in the mid-1600s. Generations of farmers selecting their plants over centuries has led to some unique genetics: parcels of vines like this have several different colours of Semillon growing side by side in a gnarly mess of vine wood: Gris, Rose, Blanc, Vert at the very least. This is very Cape DNA.
The 2018 vintage in Franschhoek produced whites of striking focus and mineral density, particularly from the valley's extraordinary old vine Semillon parcels, where the season's warmth and measured precipitation concentrated fruit to unusual depth; Alheit Vineyards' 2018 La Colline earned 96 points from Malu Lambert at Decanter and 96 points from Tim Atkin MW.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
'Pale gold. Nutty almond oak notes, with brown spices (Sémillon Gris?). Some reductive tones too. Ripe lemon and lemon curd. Full-bodied, with a rich but distinctly saline and dusty, savoury palate. Salinity supports its freshness. Long, fine and youthful.' - Tim Jackson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Aug 2021)
'In the interplanted La Colline vineyard, the majority of Semillon grapes are gold-skinned, but there are also green, pink and gris colours too. Planted in 1936, it is farmed today by Anton Roux, and since 2015 winemaker Chris Alheit has harvested the grapes together, before whole bunch pressing. The 2018 (with 12% Semillon Gris) has a bit more power than its predecessors; Chris says this is because 20% of the crop comes from the shallow soils at the vineyard's highest point. Aromas of white citrus, hay and ginger blossom, before a more savoury bay leaf edge and the sweetness of orange peel. Deeply concentrated on the palate, the generous mouthfeel displays orange, white peach and apples. The power is reigned in by energetic acidity and the waxy finish is long and complex.' - Malu Lambert, Decanter.com, 96/100 (May 2020)
'Everyone that buys grapes from Anton Roux's 1936 Franschhoek Vineyard makes an exceptional wine with them. Combining Semillon and small amounts of Semillon Gris, this is a herbal, waxy, multi-layered delight with notes of camomile and green tea and dense, focused flavours. 2022-28' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 96/100
'From Franschhoek Semillon. As ever, some reduction before white peach, naartjie, red apple and a hint of waxiness on the nose. A bit of a brute on the palate - dense, full and very flavourful with a slight bitter quality to the finish. Lots going on but perhaps slightly less refinement that previous vintages.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100 (Aug 2019)
'The 2018 La Colline is 100% Sémillon from Franschhoek. It demands some time to coalesce on the nose, eventually offering tangerine, beeswax, lanolin and light walnut aromas that achieve wonderful definition. The palate is well balanced with a waxy-textured opening. Flecks of white chocolate and almond infuse the honeyed fruit on the caressing finish. Lovely, but this is not quite as intellectual as some of Alheit's Chenin Blancs.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Oct 2019)
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