Franco was introduced to this single-vineyard Chenin Blanc site through his good friend John Seccombe of Thorne & Daughters. John pulls a bit of fruit from this vineyard, farmed by Ryno Kellerman, for his white blend as well as Sauvignon Blanc for a varietal wine. It is a truly special vineyard planted in 1977 on sandstone soils at 2,500 feet in elevation in the far northern reaches past Swartland and into the Citrusdal Mountains. The vineyard is organically, dry-farmed and is trellised on a ‘skuinskap’ system pictured on the label, that is far more common with table grapes than Vinifera ones. It really is a special expression of this grape with finesse yet plenty of power.

Tasting Notes: Stone fruit (peach), orange, lemon, waxy notes, fynbos, chamomile, hints of smoke. Powerful, dense fruit, bright acidity, rich texture, often described as salty or with quinine-like bitterness, savory, mineral, hints of crushed rocks, herbs. Full-bodied wine but fresh, with a long, complex finish.

From a Piekenierskloof vineyard planted on sandstone at 750m above sea level in 1977. The nose shows stone fruit, orange and some waxy character. The palate is powerful – dense fruit, big acidity and finish that has just a touch of quinine-like bitterness. Thick textured in the best sense and super-flavourful. CE’s rating: 94/100.