Craven Wines - Chenin Blanc "Karibib Vineyard" 2023 (750ml)
Price: $34.99
| Producer | Craven Wines |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Western Cape |
| Varietal | Chenin Blanc |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Sku | 204595 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Craven Wines Description
Craven Wines is a winemaking collaboration between husband-and-wife team Mick and Jeanine Craven. Mick is an Aussie currently working as lead winemaker at Mulderbosch during the day; Jeanine is South African, and they met in California 'dragging hoses' in Sonoma for harvest in 2007. After both having taken to the text books at their respective universities, they decided to hit the road, see lots of things, work in lots of places and try and learn as much as possible from this massive wine world. After travelling across the world together for four years and learning about wines in Australia, Europe, the States and South America, the couple returned to South Africa in late 2011. They feel Stellenbosch has such an amazing array of sites and terroir, and that it is perfect for what they want to do, which is making site-specific, honest wines.
Chenin Blanc is a variety that Mick has always wanted to work with but was waiting for the right vineyard to land in his lap. Towards the end of 2015, Mick came across a beautiful site up on the Polkadraai Hills. The terroir in this unique pocket is characterized by hilly topography and subsequently varying elevations, providing sites on elevations from 60 to 400 meters above sea level. Besides the differences in elevation, the layered soils vary from granite-based on the higher elevations to the more lighter, sandy soils in lower lying areas. Planted in 1982, this east-facing block is grown on lovely, weathered granite soil. Initially trained on a single wire, it has been 'let go' over time and now grows more like a bushvine. Mick refers to it as a "faux bush vine" vineyard. All in all, this was the perfect site in Mick's eyes.
Vinous: 92 Points
The 2023 Chenin Blanc comes from a parcel next to Reyneke in the Karibib Vineyard and was aged entirely in concrete. This has a more complex and vibrant nose than the Chardonnay, revealing yellow fruit mixed with a nutty, slightly smoky scent. The palate is very well balanced with a citrus-fresh entry and a very subtle flor-like finish that comes through more clearly on the aftertaste. Superb.
