2025 Lubanzi Chenin Blanc

Aromas of honeysuckle, ripe cantaloupe, and peach integrate with savory notes of orange peel and a subtle undertone of dry straw. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant, featuring a core of green apple and pear. It displays a refreshing, soft acidity and a lovely mid-palate texture that leads to a clean finish marked by a distinct mineral edge and a hint of grapefruit pith.

Winemakers Trizanne Barnard and Bruce Jack utilize a blend of fruit from 25-year-old trellised vines and 150-year-old dry-farmed bush vines. The fruit is hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine matures on its fine lees for three months with no oak influence, a process that preserves the high-toned aromatics while adding a sophisticated layer of texture and weight to the final blend.

The fruit is grown in the Swartland region of South Africa's Western Cape. The site is defined by its rugged landscape and diverse soils of decomposed granite and shale. These well-draining soils force the deep-rooted old vines to struggle, resulting in low yields of concentrated fruit. The region's intense summer heat is moderated by cool Atlantic breezes, allowing the Chenin Blanc to achieve full ripeness while maintaining the bright structural tension essential for the variety.