2019 Aristargos

47% Chenin Blanc, 13% Sémillon, 11% Clairette Blanche, 10% Viognier, 8% Marsanne, 6% Roussanne, 3% Verdelho, 2% Grenache Blanc. Another wine from granite soils of the Paardeberg but this time a Chenin-dominant blend rather than a varietal Chenin. Chenin Blanc from shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg and iron-rich clay soils to the west of Malmesbury are also added along with Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne, Verdelho and Grenache Blanc from iron-rich clay and lateral shale soils. The vines were planted between 1960 and 2013 and yields varied from one to four tonnes per ha. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed and naturally fermented, then matured for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels. The grapes from the two Sémilllon vineyards were fermented on their skins for a week before being pressed and matured in a big, very old 2,500-litre foudre for a year. TA 5.6 g/l, pH 3.38, RS 2.3 g/l, total SO2 91 mg/l. Total production 10,000 bottles. Very pale. Lots of fun. Juicy, less tense than the varietal Chenins. No single strand; this is clearly a blend and Chenin does not dominate the nose or palate. Wine bar wine? Clean and fresh. No desperate hurry to drink this and there is some persistence but it's the most casual wine made by David & Nadia. (JR)