CHENIN BLANC 2023, Pilgrim Wines, Paardeberg WO, Western Cape, South Africa

023 Vintage | 100% Chenin Blanc OLD VINES - Green & Sustainable

5 Stars (97pts.), Platter's Wine Guide

Platter's Newcomer Winery of the Year Award - 2021

This Single Vineyard block forms part of the Old Vine Project, originally planted in 1982, and showcases the classic hallmarks of mature Swartland Chenin — deep roots, low yields, and profound site expression. The soils are decomposed granite with interspersed layers of shale, giving a powerful mineral backbone and extraordinary textural depth to the wine.

An unforgettable expression of an irreplaceable vineyard — profound, textural, and truly timeless.

Nose: Highly expressive and exuberant — layers of ripe stone fruit, white pear, and yellow peach, intertwined with a distinct Swartland minerality and hints of fynbos and subtle citrus pith. There’s even a faint sauvignon-like aromatic lift, adding complexity and brightness.

Palate: Broad, textured, and commanding. This is perhaps the most full-bodied Chenin Blanc we’ve ever made, showing immense palate weight and precision. The touch of skin contact imparts delicate notes of marzipan, pith, and fine phenolic grip, elevating structure and balance. The tannin interplay from the skins stabilises the wine naturally, preserving its incredible freshness and long ageing potential.

This 2023 vintage marks a significant shift in origin — now from the Swartland side of the Paardeberg rather than WO Voor Paardeberg. The vineyard lies in the Langkloof area, on the northern slopes of the Paardeberg, an area that has earned its place among South Africa’s most revered Chenin Blanc terroirs.

The Swartland side of the Paardeberg mountain is considered the "ancient heartland" of the modern Swartland wine region, located about an hour north of Cape Town in the Western Cape. This area is renowned for its high concentration of top-quality, dryland-farmed bush vines, with a particular focus on Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, and other Mediterranean varietals.

This was the first and only vintage we were able to produce from this exceptional Old Vine vineyard. Sadly, the block was uprooted after the 2023 harvest, having been deemed uneconomical to maintain — a sobering reminder that, as much as wine is art, it is also agriculture. Despite this, we are immensely proud to have captured the vineyard’s swan song in a single, remarkable bottling that stands as a testament to the site’s brilliance.

Henry Kotze is an awarded Cape Wine Maker with vast experience in winemaking. He has had the good fortune to have worked with some well-known Wine people, such as Pierre Luton of Chateau Cheval Blanc on the right bank of the Gironde River in Bordeaux, France.

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Visit Winery Site: www.PilgrimWines.co.za