A profound single-vineyard expression of Swartland Chenin Blanc, exclusively from a historic site in Piketberg. Planted in 1961, 4-hectares of dryland, organically farmed bush vines in sandstone soils at 100m altitude. The wine’s complexity comes from six different, strategic harvest picks in late January, resulting in a subtle yet concentrated and punchy profile. After whole bunch pressing, the wine undergoes natural full malolactic fermentation and is aged for 11 months on its gross lees in Foudre and Stainless Steel, ensuring depth and texture alongside freshness.

A single 1961 vineyard in Piketberg on sandstone. Whole-bunch pressed and aged 11 months on lees, two-thirds in steel and a third in foudre. Pear, peach, talc and dried herbs, with a linear, energetic palate, well-defined fruit and a bone-dry finish. 12% alcohol. As Jancis Robinson says; "‘Layer Jura with Savennières with uber-dry Mosel" 

Great South African wine is quite a recent phenomenon. During the apartheid, the wine industry was completely dominated by one organization, which controlled everything from production to price, so it is only since the early 1990s that independent wine producers have emerged. 

Craig Hawkins is one of the most influential and certainly the most exciting winemakers of, not only South Africa, but the the New World. Producing wine in the Swartland in South Africa, he has helped to change the image of South African wine.

Craig's Testalonga wines often have such complexity, derived from his winemaking methods, that the authorities don’t know how to deal with it – he is denied export certification on an annual basis due to his wines lacking ‘typicity’. Well from my portfolio he joins Thierry Puzelat, Didier Barral and Francois Cotat in that regard, all brilliant winemakers who refuse to bow to convention in their quest for excellence and authenticity.

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