Wine Composition
100% Chenin Blanc
Winemakers Comments
Old vines never disappoint, and this Chenin Blanc is an ambassador for the incredible intensity and staying power it brings. First, a luminous thread in colour with flashes of green adds a youthful brightness. Then, the wine pulls you right into its core with aromas of yellow plum, quince, pineapple, preserved lemon and the sweet-floral aroma of canned pear. Adding to the wine's fruit-forward personality is an earthy quality, and warm spice adds finesse, juxtaposed with a fresh edge of lemongrass. On tasting the wine, the fruit lunges forward, reined in with a saline hint of salt flakes seasoning the wine. Elegant and sophisticated yet bold and confident. The limy acidity is a superb structural component, lifting the fruit and adding extra length to the finish. Chenin lovers can savor the delicate balance between upfront aromas and the savory twist on the palate. At the same time, the intensity and concentration of the wine leave the promise of great longevity.
Awards
John Platter | 4.5 stars
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
12%
TA
6.1 g/l
pH
3.1
RS
3 g/l
Winemaker
Name - Etienne Louw
Winery
Orpheus & The Raven was conceptualized in 2015 by winemaker Etienne Louw and graphic designer Brenden Schwartz.
These friends recognized a creative fire in each other and decided to direct this passion to develop a wine brand that is not driven by sales volumes, market share or consumer insight, but by a pure expression of the love for fine wine and art. With nothing in their arsenal except the freedom to express, passion, creativity, energy, and a single wine vat, the pair started Vinoneers, the umbrella company for the brand Orpheus & The Raven, which now includes three wines.
The creative duo’s vision finds expression in wines and labels which introduce something refreshingly unique to the South African wine market. The range of wines do all express a sense of place and purpose, as confirmed by the tales that inform on their creation. And rather than purely using the label to convey information about the wine, Etienne and Brenden use the labels to tell the story of their personal journeys inspired by the Greek play Orpheus in the Underworld.
At its core, the play encourages the audience to never look back; appropriate advice to Etienne who was a chemical engineer before embarking on a career as winemaker. With this as its departure, Orpheus & The Raven was developed as alter-egos for the Vinoneers.
Etienne, also a classically trained musician, is represented by Orpheus with his lyre. Brenden’s alter-ego derives from his family crest, which depicts a raven. Ravens are known to be highly creative, cunning, with a witty kind of wisdom and bravery - constantly encouraging Orpheus to look ahead.
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