Grapes were hand-picked in the early autumnal mornings, placed into small lug baskets and tipped directly into a press before being gently whole-bunch pressed up to a maximum of 0.6 bar or until a low juice recovery of 620 litres per ton was obtained using our Willmes Sigma 5 press. The juice gravity-flowed directly to barrel without settling. The unclarified juice had no enzymes or yeast added to it and therefore underwent spontaneous fermentation until dry, with malolactic discouraged. The wine rested in barrel for four months before judicious sulphuring and a further seven months’ maturation in barrel before racking, blending and bottling.

Only French oak was chosen, from Burgundy. Importantly, this wine was micro-vinified as a separate batch. In 2022 50% is new oak using 228 litre barrels.

Sourced from a parcel in the western part of Elgin the 95 clone is known for its excellent quality, creating wines that are aromatic, fuller bodied and rich yet tightly structured, well–balanced with length of flavour, managing to show restraint and mouth-watering passivity. The Bokkeveld Shale brings amplified perfume on the nose and elegance to the palate. The nose on the 2022 has a penetrating crushed stone, mineral character edged with savoury elements, floral notes of lucerne with baked apricot and peach crumble. The palate entry is edgy with crisp malic-led acidity, more similar to CY96 than CY95. A mineral-textured mouthfeel has a core of ripe apple, stone fruits, lemon zest, and wildflowers, evoking the freshness of an alpine spring morning. A very long, animated finish with a saline, pithy texture, giving an effect similar to Szechuan pepper, provokes the senses! More restrained than previous vintages.