Wine Composition
100% Single Block Chenin Blanc
Winemakers Comments
Brilliant pale gold. A mesmerising nose of sun-dried apricots and peach blossoms, ripe yellow pears, sweet oranges and a delicate hint of nut. A fruit-rich wine that lingers on the palate with well-balanced acidity and oak nuances. A touch of soft lime and a whisper of almond create an intriguing aftertaste that is both fresh and decadent.
Awards
Tim Atkin | 92 points
John Platter | 94 points
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
13.5%
TA
6.3 g/l
RS
2.6 g/l
Vineyard
The 2.0ha planting of Chenin Blanc is the oldest on the farm. Established in 1973, this single block is also one of the oldest in South Africa still used for vinification. Row and bunch selection of this single block make it possible to produce this Single Block Chenin Blanc. Situated in a cooler pocket of the farm with a southerly aspect and alongside a dam, the soils seldom require additional irrigation during the hot summer months. In special years the block is prone to a touch of carefully monitored Botrytis infection that promotes the production of high quality, intricately complex wine.
Winemaker
Name: Dirk Coetzee
Winery
L'Avenir estate was founded by Mauritian-born, Marc Wiehe, in 1992; prior to which the land had been under vine since the days of Simon van der Stel. L'Avenir swiftly rose to icon status - the 1997 L'Avenir Chenin Blanc was ranked best in the country at that year's Chenin Blanc Challenge& by 2004, no Pinotage had been named as frequently as L'Avenir among the top ten in the annual Top Ten Pinotage Competition.
After being acquired by Chablis-based Laroche & following a merger between Laroche & the Jeanjean family, L’Avenir now forms a part of AdVini - a family-owned wine producer with a focus on France & a footprint in Africa in the form of L’Avenir.
Despite L’Avenir Estate only having been established in 1992, our soils have been under vine since the beginning of the Stellenbosch wine region. The majority of our vineyards have reached full maturity, resulting in naturally limited yields of the highest quality grapes.