In Stock: David and Nadia
Another of the year’s finest releases has arrived on our shelves: “David & Nadia is a family-owned Swartland-driven project, and we focus on a spectrum of organic, old, and dry land bush vine vineyards from different areas with different soil types throughout the Swartland, farmed by like-minded people. We are members of the Swartland Independent Producers. In the vineyard, we aim for biological farming, and in the cellar, we work as naturally as possible. It is all about the soil and vineyards, after all. We believe in a pure, fresh, and natural style where site and soil are at work with minimal influence from a winemaking point of view.”
Aristargos 2022: Chenin Blanc (47%), Sémillon (11%), Verdelho (9%), Clairette Blanche (7%), Roussanne (7%), Grenache Blanc (6%), Marsanne (6%), Colombar (5%), and Viognier (2%). The Aristargos 2022 is yet again predominantly both Chenin Blanc and Old Vines driven (Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Clairette Blanche, and Colombar), and the focus remains on the granitic soils of the Paardeberg. Chenin Blanc from shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg and iron-rich clay soils to the west of Malmesbury are also added. Dry land-farmed bush vines have stood the test of time and it showcases the ultimate reason why Chenin Blanc is our main focus in the Swartland. Planting dates vary from 1960 until 2013. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and naturally fermented, and then matured for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels. The grapes from the two Sémillon vineyards were fermented on their skins for a week before being pressed and matured in a very old 2,500 L foudre for a year. The Colombar was also fermented on the skins (for 5 days) and matured in old oak barrels. Two Chenin Blanc components were fermented and matured in concrete vessels - one an egg, the other a square tank. In total, the grapes from 21 different vineyards were used, and picked in 28 different lots.
Elpidios 2021: Grenache noir (54%), Syrah (31%), Carignan (13%), Pinotage (1%), and Cinsaut (1%). This Grenache noir-based blend was produced from grapes from 11 different vineyards harvested in 17 lots. The 2021 vintage again includes a portion of wine that was fermented and matured in a concrete vessel - Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsaut. Along with the concrete vessels, the wine was also matured in old 500 L neutral French oak barrels and a 4,100 L foudre (Pinotage). The Elpidios is produced in a similar fashion to our main Grenache noir in terms of long, gentle extraction, the use of 40% on average whole bunches, and then pressed off. After bottling, the wine was aged in the bottle for 18 months before release. This vintage is again based on grapes grown in granite soils from the Paardeberg, blended with structured shale/schists from the east, clay-rich soils from the north, and iron-rich soils from the west.
Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2022: The Hoë-Steen vineyard was planted in 1968 west of Malmesbury towards Darling, in deep, red iron and clay-rich soils. Most probably the deepest soils we work with in the Swartland. This block is a late ripener due to south-facing slopes. This vineyard was planted using a “massale” selection method and grafted in the vineyard onto the rootstocks a year after the rootstocks were planted. A few Cape Riesling (Crouchen Blanc), False Pedro, Palomino, Sémillon, and Clairette Blanche vines have been discovered since then. The vineyard remains predominantly Steen for us, and we see it as part of the Cape’s old vineyard history, which we are privileged to be working with. This 2 ha vineyard was harvested over three pickings in mid/end February. It was hand sorted, whole bunch pressed, and matured in old French oak barrels for a year. The wine has a Certified Heritage Vineyards (CHV) seal and forms part of the Old Vine Project (OVP).
Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2022: These vines were planted in 1985 in very shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg, being an anomaly as the mountain is granite-driven. These soils prove why our region is known for wheat farms as it remains a difficult soil for vineyards in a warm region in a dryland farming context. A narrow tractor road divides the Plat’bos and Skaliekop vineyards. Skaliekop was harvested in mid-February on two picking dates. The wine was fermented and aged separately for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels before blending and then bottling at the end of the year. This wine qualifies for the Certified Heritage Vineyards (CHV) seal and forms part of the Old Vine Project (OVP).
Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2022: Introducing the fifth vintage of the Plat’bos Chenin Blanc, planted right next to the Skaliekop vineyard in decomposed granite. Planted in 1981 on the Paardebosch farm, this vineyard contributes to both our main Chenin Blanc as well as Aristargos, and it will continue to do so. We have been farming this vineyard since winter 2013, and it has been a pillar in our granite approach towards our white wines. Grapes were harvested in the first part of February, being one of the earliest Chenin Blanc vineyards we work with, planted on a northern slope. Harvesting took place over two picking dates, and both lots were fermented and aged separately. Plat’bos is also part of the Old Vine Project (OVP).
Rondevlei Chenin Blanc 2022: This Chenin Blanc vineyard was planted in 1984 (the same year that both of us were born). It is the second vintage that we release a single-vineyard wine from this vineyard situated in an arid plain in the Swartland to the west of Malmesbury. It is the only double-row vineyard that we work with. This vineyard was harvested on four picking dates from the end of January to the second week of February, and all four lots were kept separate. One-third of the wine was fermented and aged in a concrete egg, while the rest of the wine was fermented and matured in barrels before blending at the end of the year. The wine also qualifies for the Certified Heritage Vineyards (CHV) seal and forms part of the Old Vine Project (OVP).
Chenin Blanc 2022: Our main Chenin Blanc from the Swartland focuses yet again on various Old Vine Vineyards, with plantings ranging from 1968 to 1986. The wine is based on granite from the Paardeberg, blended with shale/schist from the east, more clay-rich soils from the north, and iron-rich soils from the western parts of the Swartland. Dry land-farmed bush vines have stood the test of time and it showcases the ultimate reason why Chenin Blanc is our main focus in the Swartland. In total, the wine is made from 8 vineyards, 19 pickings, different soils, different aspects, different vineyard ages, and farmed by different people and different farmers. This wine illustrates the Swartland, its people, and its old vineyards. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and naturally fermented and then matured for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels. Two components were fermented and matured in concrete (9% concrete in total) - one in a square concrete tank and the other in a concrete egg. The wine has a Certified Heritage Vineyards (CHV) seal and forms part of the Old Vine Project (OVP).
Grenache noir 2022: The 2022 vintage consists of five Grenache noir vineyards, with the core being a vineyard from the Paardeberg planted in the early 2000s. Joining this vineyard is another Paardeberg vineyard, recently planted on the northeastern side of the Langkloof valley, overlooking the Aprilskloof. Another addition is a 2016 planted vineyard in the schist of the Kasteelberg. This vineyard was planted on terraces high up in the mountain. Finally, Grenache noir from a farm north of Malmesbury was also added, a vineyard we have been working with since 2012. Twelve different pickings were done from the five Grenache noir vineyards. A component (45%) of the wine was fermented and matured in concrete. The juice was kept on the skins for four weeks pre/during fermentation, and 60% whole bunches were used. Grapes were punched down and pumped over during alcoholic fermentation, with a minimal and gentle extraction process in mind. The wine was pressed off and matured in old 500 L neutral French oak barrels as well as 2,700 L concrete vessels for a year.
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About Us
Have you ever heard about a great wine but could never find a bottle for yourself (to share with friends, of course)? Well, the team at Wine & Company do all the hard work for you! We visit wine farms and attend tastings to find, taste, and then stock wine from the smaller Estates and independent winemakers who buy grapes and produce outstanding wine under their own labels - much the same as the French negociants have been doing for centuries. Given that these winemakers make wine in such small quantities, sometimes just a single barrel, their wine will never be found on the shelves of the major retailers, but only in independent specialist shops like Wine & Company on High Street, Hermanus.
In addition to the great selection of well-known local wines and MCC's, we also stock craft gin and beer, imported wines, French Champagne, Belgian Ales as well as whisky and other spirits. Wine & Company (established in 1998 by Bartho Eksteen) has a well-earned reputation for stocking hard-to-find small-batch wines and we strive to continue this great tradition. If you purchase a bottle of wine from us and it is faulty we will gladly replace the bottle and return the faulty wine to the winemaker.
Feel free to contact Wine & Company if you need a particular wine and we will do our best to source it for you. We are also able to ship wine locally and to most countries so do ask about international shipping.
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