A characterful white field blend from a cool, high-altitude site, the 2021 Hemelrand Vine Garden expresses its terroir through a changing mix of Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin Blanc, and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. The vintage offers stone fruit, dried orange peel, and hints of noble rot on the nose, with a full-bodied, textural palate balanced by vibrant acidity and a long, elegant finish. Minimal intervention winemaking preserves its purity and complexity.

Winespectator.com | WS 92
Published: May 31, 2023

A rich, mouthwatering white set in a sleek and well-knit medium-bodied frame. Offers hints of crushed pink peppercorn and fleur de sel that crackle on the palate, accenting ripe, grainy pear, ruby red grapefruit, slate and ground anise and cardamom flavors as they expand through the plush, lasting finish. An intriguing, expressive version. Chardonnay, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Muscat. Drink now through 2028. 390 cases made, 43 cases imported.

Alheitvineyards.co.za

Hemelrand Vine Garden is a unique vineyard that produces a unique wine. The idea is to bottle the wine just as the vineyard produces it, effectively creating a white field blend that changes every year depending on the vintage conditions. This way we have one place expressed by a few different grapes, changing as the season dictates. The wine is always remarkable and continues to gain in stature as the vines mature.

Hemelrand it is situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360 meters above sea level, on gravelly clay, and Sandstone. The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, and Muscat Blanc a petit grain. However, as mentioned the proportions of the different grapes produced significantly varies each vintage. Viticulturally speaking this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity.