Testalonga Cortez Chenin Blanc

A complex nose showing dried herbs, pear, peach, apple and a hint of smoky reduction while the palate has lovely fruit purity and definition, electric acidity and a pithy finish. Beautifully poised and intense while being extraordinarily light-bodied. VINEYARD NOTESPlanted in 1972, dryland bush vine (un-trellised), farmed organically. The vineyard has been farmed organically since 2001 and every year, good or bad, provides exceptional quality. Good farming, along with the quartz/silica soils, produces a wine withincredible tension - rich yet fresh. WINEMAKING NOTESHand harvested and whole-bunch pressed. Fermented/aged in 4 x 500L old French foudre and a single 1500L stainless steel tank for 6 months then blended together and placed back into wood and stainless steel. No yeast (or other) inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2 shortly before bottling. 100% malolactic fermentation. A very light clarifying filtration was done using coarse cellulose sheets, no fining. ABV