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91POINTS
16¾/20
A. A. Badenhorst White Blend 2013
Swartland, Coastal Region, South AfricaThis layered, full-bodied white reflects its origin: dry farmed, older bush vines from Adi's home farm Kalmoesfontein, along with others in Swartland and around Paardeberg mountain. The complexing makes even more sense when you realize the blend. This vintage is based on chenin blanc, and joined by roussanne, marsanne, grenache blanc, viognier, verdehlo, chardonnay, grenache gris, clairette blanche, and palomino. After a whole bunch press, this was transferred to old, very large casks (1200L and 3000L) for ferment and 15 months aging, and where the blending process begins. At the end of their time in cask, all was blended together in one large concrete tank with all the unsulfured lees, where it remained for eight months before bottling. 7000 bottles produced. Nutty, leesy and lemon verbena kissed, this is intense and voluminous with honey, dried scrubby herbs, meadow grasses, wildflowers, quince, and roiboos spicing, filling the 13.5 degree palate with a weight far beyond its alcohol content. A slight phenolic grip holds all the multitudinous components in place, and lingers on the finish. Shows sense of place, and drinking beautifully now.Tasted: 14 September 2019Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:| BC | $65.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
Blend: Chenin Blanc - Roussanne - Viognier - MarsanneCSPC: 753210UPC: 6009800591064
