Uitkyk Chenin Blanc, Simonsberg

Description

Uitkyk Chenin Blanc is a barrel fermented white wine made by Estelle Louren at this historic Simonsberg wine estate.

Uitkyk (pronounced ‘ate cake’) is one of the most beautiful estates in the Cape. The name means “look out”, which it does – from the southwestern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain where it is situated, across the Cape Flats to Table Mountain in the distance. Uitkyk Estate was founded in 1712 when it was first granted to Jan Oberholzer, but vines were first planted only in 1929 when an immigrant Prussian novleman, Hans von Carlowitz, bought the estate. The estate became famous for its Carlonet blend, originally a blend of Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon but they also produce some fine white wines too.

The grapes for the Uitkyk Chenin Blanc come from a single vineyard located at 250m above sea level with an average vine age of 35 years old. The vines are trellised on a 3 wire hedge system and received no supplementary irrigation during the growing season. Because these vines are so old, with age they almost became like bush vines. After harvest, skin contact was allowed for 6 to 8 hours and only free-run juice was used. The wine is fermented in 400 litre barrels and is subsequently aged on the lees for a period of 10 months in 37% new oak and 63% second and third fill French oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation took place. During the maturation period the lees was stirred every 2 weeks to add complexity and texture to the wine.