Cartology 2021/22, Alheit Vineyards, Hemel-en-Aarde

The nose is detailed and beautiful – ripe pear and sweet herbs, both citrus juice and rind. The palate is very pure and true, fine boned clarity, lovely proportions, no extra weight (unlike myself). This vintage shows good intensity and saline length. For me, the key word for this vintage is purity. This wine is already drinking well in its youth, but will reward maturation.

Alheit Vineyards is a family business started in 2010 by husband and wife team Chris and Suzaan Alheit. They met at Stellenbosch University, fell in love, travelled the world together, got married, then travelled some more. Eventually they settled on Hemelrand farm close to Hermanus and started their project.

The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation in either cement eggs, clay pots, foudres, or old barrels (various sizes). Fermentation can last anywhere between 3 weeks and 11 months. The wine is kept on lees for around twelve months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further six months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.