Alheit, Cartology 2020
Cartology is a vineous exploration of Cape heritage. It is intended to be a picture of the Cape seen through the lens of her old vineyards in a given vintage.
93% Chenin and 7% Sémillion. These grapes are sourced from rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines.
Aromas of citrus, peach and pineapple highlighted by a salinity, flint and almond croissant.
£35.99
Out of stock
Swartland
Chenin Blanc
Bone-drySweet
Description
A cuveé composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines, of heritage grapes, namely Chenin Blanc and Sémillon. These grapes have been planted in the Cape for centuries. Cartology has become Alheit’s staple offering. It serves as a poster child for the project, and has also become a flag bearer for Cape heritage wine in general.
WINEMAKER’S TASTING NOTES
The wine looks alive and bright, pale gold in colour.
Citrus rind and pear ring clear on the nose…there’s a faint herbal/stony echo and some soft cardamon-like spice here too.
The palate is sappy and layered, fine and dry with lovely cleansing acidity. Long finish. I’d say more, but I think the wine will speak for itself.
VINEYARDS
As a rule, the Cartology parcels are dry farmed bushvines, with a minimum age of thirty years, although most are between forty and fifty years old.
Cartology 2020 is 93% Chenin blanc and 7% Sémillon. The Chenin comes from Alheit parcels in the Skurfberg, Perdeberg, Upper Blaauwklippen, False Bay and Tygerberg. The Sémillon comes from the old La Colline block in Franschhoek.
WINEMAKING & MATURATION
The grapes are hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice is very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation in either cement eggs, clay pots, foudres, or old barrels (various sizes).
Fermentation can last anywhere between three weeks and eleven months. The wine is kept on lees for around twelve months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further six months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.
Additional information
| Alcohol vol | 13.3% |
|---|---|
| Grape | Chenin Blanc |
| Wine Farm | |
| Vintage | 2020 |
All types of seafood from poached lobster to seared salmon.
2 reviews for Alheit, Cartology 2020
Location
95pts | Tim Atkin
“2020 marks the tenth vintage of Cartology – how Chris Alheit’s star has ascended in the last decade – and is an inspirational, eight terroir blend of Chenin Blanc and 7% Semillon. Always more than the sum of its parts, it’s a beautifully judged, ageworthy white with aromas of sea salt, straw and blackcurrant leaf and an intense gunflint, dried herb and citrus palate. Long and satisfying.”
Tim Atkin –
93pts | Platter’s
“Old-vine W Cape chenin, 2020 with 7% Franschhoek semillon, down from 10% in 2019 (5 stars, 95 pts). Shows lengthy lees contact (12 months primary, then 6 months fine lees) in salt-edged peach & pineapple fruit. Almond croissant & orange blossom highlights complete always stellar wine. Wholebunch press, natural ferment, only older vessels, as all.”
Platter’s –