Daschbosch Mossiesdrift Steen Chenin Blanc

DaschBosch crafts elegant wines and experimental wines whilst upholding traditional methods of wine-making and craftsmanship, since 1754, when the farm land was granted by the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Rijk Tulbagh. Their wines reflect the vastness of the South African landscape and reflect the decades of vines growing in one place, in the unyielding sun, the cold winter rain, the storms and winds, on a mountain, on a plain somewhere which produces these delicate but powerful wines.

Daschbosch wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities. Sustainability is one of the core values of the winery as they rely on a biological asset, grapes. Their approach is focused on environmental sustainability, as the environment is a focal point when farming high quality grapes. They implement sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint, water usage and the need for electricity by using solar energy. With deep roots in the local community they supplying water to a school, free accommodation for cellar employees and access to medical examinations.

Chenin Blanc,

100% Chenin Blanc from 58 year old bush vine in Breedekloof on the eastern border of Paarl, these vines are grown on Mossiesdrift farm which is registered as part of South Africa's Old Vine Project.

Between 4-5 tonnes of grapes were hand picked in the middle of March. The grapes were de-stemmed and crushed, cold soaking and slow fermentation at 15-22°C to enhance flavours and colour. The wine was fermented in 3rd & 4th fill barrels for about 3 weeks with commercial as well as wild yeast then left on the thick lees for 6 months and barrel-matured for 8 months.

A fine example of old vine Chenin Blanc from a 60 year old vineyard in Breedekloof. A standout wine in the excellent Daschbosch range of ‘heritage’ wines, one of the region’s star producers.

With shades of lemon and straw in the glass and earthly character of wet stone, hints of ripe citrus and spice on the nose. Vibrant and concentrated with intense yet restrained fruit balanced by taut acidity and notable length.

Perfect with creamy chicken and seafood dishes.

Nolan - Text from the Spotlight On The White Wines of South Africa blog.

Here we have a more premium wine than the humble False Bay Chenin Blanc, but what the heck is Steen? “Steen” is a South African colloquialism dating way back to the 17th century when the Dutch started to settle in South Africa. Originally, Steen was thought to be a unique local grape, it was only much later with genetic testing that the variety was found to be France’s Chenin Blanc.

Our previous wine from False Bay is produced from vines grown in several appellations around South Africa’s Western Cape, this more serious example of Chenin Blanc is from a single farm in a lesser known region called Breedekloof. Breedekloof is named after the Breede river which separates the Coastal Region’s of Paarl and Wellington in the West from the Breede River Valley regions including Breedekloof itself, Robertson and Worcester to the East. “Breede” means broad/wide in Afrikaans and “Kloof” is a deep valley or gorge. This name then perfectly paints the picture of the region, a wide valley with steep sided slopes rising to craggy peaks.

Daschbosch is a sustainably minded producer. Sustainability is incredibly important in the Western Cape as South Africa's Cape floral kingdom is one of the richest areas in the world for plant biodiversity. Of the 9000 plant species found here, 6000 are native fynbos, (shrubland wildflowers), which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

The following is a statement from Daschbosch on their sustainable efforts:

“Daschbosch wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities. Sustainability is one of the core values of the winery as they rely on a biological asset, grapes. Their approach is focused on environmental sustainability, as the environment is a focal point when farming high quality grapes. They implement sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint, water usage and the need for electricity by using solar energy. With deep roots in the local community, they are supplying water to a school, free accommodation for cellar employees and access to medical examinations.”

The wines produced at Daschbosch are wonderful, terroir driven styles. This particular Chenin is from a single farm, Mossiesdrift, which is registered as part of South Africa's Old Vine Project. The vines at this farm are now over 60 years old. When vines get older, such as these gnarly old bush vines, the root systems dig deeper into the earth so even in warmer places like this, they can tap into the water table, reducing the need for irrigation, (effortless sustainability!). Older vines are naturally less vigorous and produce fewer grapes so more energy is dedicated to this smaller amount of fruit, leading to a more intense flavour with a greater sense of minerality.

After handpicking, the wine was fermented in 3rd & 4th fill barrels for about 3 weeks with commercial as well as wild yeast then left on the thick lees for 6 months to develop texture and autolytic flavours. Barrel maturation continues for 8 months. The result of the old vines and the expert cellar treatment is an earthy character of wet stone, ripe citrus and spice on the nose with bruised red apple and a saline yeasty tang. Vibrant and concentrated in the mouth with intense yet restrained fruit balanced by taut acidity and an impressive length to the finish.

This style of Chenin deserves langoustines though will happily stand up to pork and apple.