A unique blend made up of all the white varieties planted on Joostenberg Estate. Named after former Joostenberg matriarch and gardener extraordinaire, Gillian (née Fairhead) Myburgh.

From vines ranging between 5 and 34 years old. Grapes were hand-picked early in the morning and whole bunch pressed. The wine underwent spontaneous fermentation and maturation in clay amphora(51%), with the rest in seasoned oak barrels(26%) and concrete eggs(23%). The wine was matured on the lees for 10 months.

Tasting Notes: Offering exotic notes of honeysuckle, apple crumble, peach, apricot, and citrus, balanced by herbs, ginger, and spice, with a dry, gently bitter finish, showing depth and a pleasing balance without being forceful, maturing in a mix of amphora, concrete, and old oak. 

Food Pairing:  pairs beautifully with starters like chicken liver pater, light seafood, salads with citrus, and dishes featuring pear & pecan nuts, complementing its fruity profile and balancing sweetness with acidity for versatile enjoyment, from light meals to richer starters. 

The 2023 vintage of the white blend that is Fairhead from Paarl property Joostenberg provides quite a bit of interest as you might expect from a wine consisting of 42% Chenin Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 20% Viognier and 13% Alvarinho, fermentation and 10 months of maturation taking place in a combination of amphorae, concrete eggs and older barrels. Aromatics are exotic including flowers, fynbos, lemon, peach, apricot, pineapple, earth and spice while the palate shows good depth of fruit and sufficient acidity, which is to say the wine comes across as neither listless nor angular. The finish, meanwhile, is nicely dry. Alc: 13.5%. CE’s rating: 92/100.