bosberaad

WINE: BOSBERAAD CHENIN BLANC 2024

PRODUCTION: 7480 BOTTLES

REGION: SWARTLAND, PAARDEBERG

VINEYARD: KWEPERFONTEIN, WATERVALE, JAKKALSFONTEIN

VARIETY: CHENIN BLANC

AGE OF THE VINES: 44 YEARS

YIELDS: 2T/HA

SOIL: DECOMPOSITE GRANITE

FARMING: SUBSTAINABLE

RAINFALL: 500 MM PER YEAR

IRRIGATION: NO

PRUNING: GOBELET

ALTITUDE: 203 METERS

HARVEST: BY HAND WITH SORTING

YEAST: INDIGENEOUS

WINEMAKING: WHOLE BUNCH PRESSED INTO OLD OAK BARRELS & CONCRETE EGG

AGING: 12 MONTHS ON LEES

FINING: NO

FILTRATION: NO

ALCOHOL: 13 %

RESIDUAL: 1.6 G/L

PH: 3.28

ACIDITY: 5.7 G/L

TOTAL SULPHUR: 85 MG/L

Bosberaad Chenin Blanc Swartland - Paulus Wine Co

The name

99% of the decisions we make are done outside, in Nature.

The variety

Chenin Blanc. Because it is a very honest and transparent variety, it does not hide anything.

The vineyard

Because of the position at the bottom of the valley, the vines are exposed to sunlight for a relatively short time. That is why you don’t get those ripe Chenin flavour that you would usually expect from a Swartland vineyard. The bottom section is (right in the middle of the valley) a lot greener than the top section which gives a nice mix and balance of different flavours and textures.

The story

Swartland Chenin Blanc bush vines from the Paardeberg planted in 1980 in deep decomposed granite soils. Hand picked and whole bunch pressed into old oak barrels (and a egg) where the juice ferments and settles naturally. The wine is kept on the lees for about twelve months and then racked and bottled. No fining, no filtration, just a kiss of sulphur.

The descriptors

On the nose, we pick up a variety of stone fruits like pear and apricot accompanied by delicate hints of white flower, baked quince and honeycomb. On the pallet, there is a certain richness and power that comes through, a slight hint of reduction and saltiness that emphasises and elevates freshness to the wine.

We made our first vintage of Bosberaad in 2018, and every year since has deepened our understanding of this vineyard.

Ratings & Accolades

2018 (First Vintage) - 93 Tim Atkin, 89 David Swingler (Platter’s Wine Guide 2020)

“Chenin off mature Paardeberg bushiness, the granitic soils giving brightly aromatic, flint-inflected fruit. Depth & intensity of flavour, good mouthfeel, some breadth from 10 months on lees in old oak, decent acidic grip. Altogether, well balanced.” - David Swingler

2019 - 93 Neil Martin, 91 David Swingler (Platter’s Wine Guide 2021)

“… It tastes magnificent, so much so that I cleaved it away from my forthcoming South Africa report to highlight this bottle in Cellar Favorite. Its cool microclimate shows on the nose: brilliantly defined scents of honeysuckle, lanolin, conference pear and white peach unfold and gain even more complexity the following day. The palate is beautifully balanced, demonstrating what Chenin Blanc can do in the right hands. There is real complexity that derives not from obvious flavors, rather its wonderful waxy texture and salinity that electrifies its finish. It is one of the best Chenin Blanc wines that I have tasted in a long time and I suspect will age extremely well. “ Neil Martin

2020 - 91 Tim Atkin, 95 David Swingler (Platter’s Wine Guide 2022)

“…Floral and waxy, with sage and fynbos aromas, subtle wood, quince and apple fruit and chiselled, stony precision. 2023-28” – Tim Atkin, MW, South African Special Report 2022

2021 - 91 Tim Atkin, 92 David Swingler (Platter’s Wine Guide 2023)

“ … Different and more complex flavour profile: fynbos and cinnamon spice stronger features, with savoury bruised apple flesh further attraction. Same acid tension, firm and dry structure.” David Swingler

2022 - 93 Tim Atkin, 93 David Swingler (Platter’s Wine Guide 2024)

“ … has more intensity, breadth and structure than Paul’s Bartàs bottling. Combining power with minerality, it exhibits citrus, pear and fennel notes and a hint of skin contact bitterness. Classy stuff from a very talented young winemaker. 2023-27” Tim Atkin

“ Presents as uncompromisingly dry and firm but not severe at all. Touch fuller and richer than Bartas, with great vitality and understated intensity of aroma and long lingering flavour (dried herbs, dried peach) ans stoniness. Again, lovely silkiness. Eminently ageworthy.” David Swingler

2023 - 93 Tim Atkin, 93 James Sucking

“ A creamy and delicious chenin blanc that bursts with yellow-apple, papaya, mango and hazelnut aromas. It’s full-bodied, with lovely pithy and saline undertones supporting the yellow fruit… Drink now or hold.” James Sucking