{"product_id":"alheit-cartology-western-cape-chenin-blanc-2024-750ml","title":"Alheit Cartology Western Cape Chenin Blanc 2024 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCartology 2023 by Alheit Vineyards is a beautifully balanced and medium-bodied white wine, crafted from 94% Chenin Blanc and 6% Sémillon. Sourced from old, dry-farmed bushvines, it showcases vibrant aromas of lemon, almonds, and citrus blossoms. The palate is fresh and mineral-driven, with delicate spices and a savory, food-friendly finish. Aged in cement eggs, old foudre, and barrels, this wine will benefit from another year in the bottle, with excellent aging potential through 2035.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine Advocate | \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(158, 0, 57); text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRP 95\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublished: \u003cspan\u003eFeb 27, 2026\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrink: 2026-2038\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Alheit Vineyards 2024 Cartology Bush Vines blends Chenin Blanc with 8% Semillon, the Chenin drawn from nine plots across the Cape, ranging from 40 to 60 years old, and the Semillon from vines nearing 90 years of age. Conceived as a study in mapping and terroir, Cartology assembles diverse soils and climates into a singular expression of the Western Cape. The 2024 vintage shows linear drive, salinity and freshness alongside textural richness and layered depth. Complex yet composed, it captures what Alheit describes simply as a white wine of the Western Cape. By uniting sites shaped by ocean winds, ancient soils and old vines, the wine reflects a distinctly South African identity grounded in both heritage and precision. This is a thrilling wine made in a larger production (with 22,510 bottles, plus 240 magnums made) at an affordable price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eVintner Chris Alheit embodies the irreverent charm and spirited independence many imagine when first turning their attention to the wines of South Africa. Though meeting him only once at Cape Wine 2025, his wines have already provided me (speaking with enormous humility as someone covering this beautiful country for only two years) with a benchmark for Chenin Blanc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChris Alheit studied at Stellenbosch University before gaining international winemaking experience in Europe. He and his wife, Suzaan, founded Alheit Vineyards in 2010 with a clear focus: to champion old-vine Chenin Blanc and articulate the Cape’s historic vineyard sites through minimal intervention winemaking. Early on, they worked exclusively with purchased fruit, building long-term relationships with growers farming old bush vines across Swartland, Stellenbosch and other Western Cape regions. In 2019, they purchased their own Swartland farm, making it the estate’s first owned vineyard in a landscape where old vines are increasingly scarce and land access is difficult.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe winemaking philosophy centers on restraint, site transparency and age-worthy structure. Fermentations are typically natural, aging takes place in older barrels or large-format vessels and oak influence is always subtle. The flagship Cartology, first released in 2011, is a reference point for Western Cape Chenin Blanc, blending multiple heritage parcels into a singular regional voice. In the Alheit Vineyards portfolio, colored capsules indicate blends drawn from more than one region, while black capsules designate single-vineyard wines\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlheitvineyards.co.za\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCartology is a vinous exploration of Cape heritage. It's intended to be a picture of the Cape seen through the lens of her old vineyards in a given vintage. The cuvee is composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines, of heritage grapes, namely Chenin Blanc and Semillon. These grapes have been planted in the Cape for centuries. \u003cbr\u003eCartology has become our staple offering. It serves as a poster child for our project, and also seems to have become a flag bearer for Cape heritage wine in general. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVineyards: \u003cbr\u003eAs a rule, the Cartology parcels are dry farmed bushvines, with a minimum age of 30 years, although most are between 40 and 50 years old. Average yields for these parcels is around 3 tons\/Ha or around 20hl\/Ha. \u003cbr\u003eCartology is 90% Chenin blanc and 10% Semillon. The Chenin comes from our parcels in the Skurfberg, Piekenierskloof, Perdeberg, Bottelary, False Bay and Tygerberg. The Semillon comes from the old La Colline block in Franschhoek. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTasting Notes: \u003cbr\u003eWeight and power are not the same thing. Here's a wine with a moderate palate weight that has both intensity and power. The nose is wonderful: kumquat citrus, sweet oatmeal and honey, maybe elderflower. The palate is fine and bright, reminiscent of salty\/sweet candied lemon, great length.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Name: Cartology means the study of maps or charts. It could not be more perfect name for this wine. Not only because of our endeavours to search for and find these special old vineyards, but also because the wine itself can be seen as a vinous map or tapestry of the Cape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(151, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hidden-half opened\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTechnical Specs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13.1%\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e DIAM Cork\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hidden-half opened\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOak:\u003c\/strong\u003e No new oak; fermented and matured in cement eggs, old foudres and old barrels\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVarietals:\u003c\/strong\u003e 94% Chenin Blanc, 6% Sémillon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkin Contact:\u003c\/strong\u003e Whole-bunch pressed with minimal settling\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chris Alheit\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Western Cape, South Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Temperature: \u003c\/strong\u003e10–12°C\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 54, 136);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not required; allow 15–20 minutes in the glass\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shellfish, grilled fish, roast poultry, goat cheese, creamy seafood dishes and mildly spicy Asian cuisine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sale","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41481920380992,"sku":"WHZA20240005","price":65.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0564\/7728\/6464\/files\/alheit-vineyards-bush-vines-cartology-750ml.jpg?v=1755687326","url":"https:\/\/www.1855thebottleshop.com\/products\/alheit-cartology-western-cape-chenin-blanc-2024-750ml","provider":"1855 The Bottle Shop Pte Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}