Sijnn Wines - White Blend 2022 (750ml)
Price: $31.99
| Producer | Sijnn Wines |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region | Cape South Coast |
| Varietal | Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Verdeljo |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Sku | 204598 |
| Size | 750ml |
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"Charla Bosman uses Chenin Blanc as the base of this wine, complemented by 9% Viognier and 5% each of Roussanne and Verdelho. Fermented in 10% new barrels, it’s a white of considerable intensity and focus, showing layers of pear, citrus and tangerine, good grip and a fresh, stony finish."
- Tim Atkin, MW
Sijnn Wines Description
The story of Sijnn (pronounced ‘sane,’ derived from the Khosian word for ‘riverbank’) is, literally, a long and winding road. In 2000, David and Rita Trafford of De Trafford Wines were on vacation in Malgas, a very rural town at the mouth of the Breede River Valley about three hours east of Cape Town. The land here looks like Chateauneuf-du-Pape if it were planted on the moon atop the Mosel, if the Mosel were located just 10 miles from the Indian Ocean. They stumbled fortuitously up a bumpy, 25-mile dirt road to the site that would become the monopole of Sijnn, as it is and was the only winery/vineyard within 40 miles. David and Rita were immediately intrigued by this raw environment, and a purchase agreement with three minor shareholders, including Simon Farr (founder of Bibendum Wine in the U.K.) was drawn up. More than 200 soil profiles later, twelve hectares of vines were planted and the name Sijnn Wines was appropriated to the venture.
Today Sijnn is known for their plantings of Mediterranean varieties like Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc and Viognier. Lately they’ve begun to experiment with new alternative varieties, like Roussanne and Verdelho, as well as the usual international suspects Grenache and Cab. (David “didn’t want to die wondering what Cabernet from Malgas would taste like.”) The winemaking is a simple, no-frills approach that vividly captures their wild and rugged home. As these wines age, the “sense of place becomes bigger than the variety,” David says. The ability to impart this “geographical signature,” as Jancis Robinson calls it, is the holy grail of winemaking.
James Molesworth of Wine Spectator put it simply when he said, “I think it’s important for anyone who appreciates the efforts that go into making wine to try and track down a few bottles of Sijnn. There are few projects that epitomize such a soulful, pioneering approach to winemaking.” While Kruger has very large shoes to fill, David wouldn’t pick just anyone for the job. The next chapter at Sijnn promises to carry forward its legacy as one of South Africa’s most pioneering wineries.
The Sijnn White blend joins the ranks alongside the likes of Thorne & Daughters ‘Rocking Horse’ or Chris Alheit’s ‘Cartology’ as one of South Africa’s most interesting white blends. The fruit hails from the Sijnn estate vineyards in Malgas, home to some of South Africa’s wildest terroir.
