The Guinea Fowl Chenin 2024 has subtle tropical fruit blossoms on the nose with nectarine, Chinese white pear and honeycomb notes and fresh citrus adding to the bouquet. There is a fresh citrus entry to a full mouthfeel and a final honey-like finish on the palate.
Due to a high rainfall and cold winter conditions during 2023 the vines budded evenly at the beginning of the 2024 season. This also resulted in an earlier and condensed harvest period. The 2024 vintage also brought some challenges with higher humidity and warmer February days, leading to lower acidity in the wines. This Chenin displays beautiful stone fruit nuances of peach and nectarine. It has a smooth entry, a
broad mouthfeel and a vibrant acidity giving it length.
Grapes were destemmed and received skin contact for approximately 2 hours before gentle pressing. After pressing, both components were left on the gross sediment for 24 hours for added mouthfeel and texture development. After racking the different components were moved to different combinations of stainless-steel tanks and older oak barrels. In total, 10% of the wine was fermented in older, neutral, oak barrels.
In the vineyard
Sourced from 2 separate vineyards planted on a South- West facing slope on Saxenburg. Both vineyards are on the typical coarse granitic soil synonymous with the Polkadraai Hills. The two blocks were picked in two different portions, with one picked earlier to bring freshness to the final wine. The 1st pick is from the younger block bringing freshness to the wine. The 2nd pick came from the older block and adds a deep structure to the resulting wine.
Cultivar
Chenin Blanc
Food Pairing
A moreish wine that can be enjoyed by the glass or can accompany a wide variety of tapas dishes.
About the Wine Estate
When Adrian and Birgit Bührer took ownership of Saxenburg in 1989, the farm, and South Africa as a nation, was in dire need of rejuvenation. Thanks to their grit and unflappable perseverance, they tenaciously stuck to their vision. They traded their familiar surroundings of Switzerland for a homestead in the Cape Winelands. Fiona and Vincent are the second-generation Bührer Family custodians of Saxenburg Wine Estate with the mission to showcase our incredible terroir in the Polkadraai Hills and to create special Saxenburg moments with people from all walks of life.
