Product Overview
Winery's Notes
"Sourced from old-vine Chenin Blanc planted in 1985 on decomposed shale and granite soils, this wine reflects a minimal intervention approach, allowing the terroir to show with clarity and precision. Grapes were hand-harvested over two pickings for optimal balance, then pre-cooled and whole-bunch pressed. After overnight settling, the juice was racked to seasoned 500L French oak for spontaneous fermentation and full malolactic conversion. The wine matured for 11 months in barrel, followed by a further 11 months in 2,500L foudre to build texture and integration, with an additional six months of bottle ageing prior to release.
This Old Vine Chenin Blanc is rich and intense and offers classic aromas of green and poached apple, white peach, dried hay, licks of stem ginger and exotic herbs. The palate is full and seductive with perfectly judged oak aging. As the wine lingers in the mouth, more flavours unfurl with dried apricot. Oriental spice and candied pineapple wrapped in a creamy lees cape. Seamless, complex and sophisticated with an unwavering mineral farewell."
Varietal Composition: 100% Chenin Blanc
Appellation: WO Paarl
Aging: 11 months in 500-liter French oak, followed by 11 months in large Stockinger foudres
94 Points - Vinous
"The 2023 Chenin Blanc comes from vines planted in 1985 and aged for 11 months in 500-litre French oak and Stockinger foudres. This is very pure and expressive on the nose: white fruit, melted candle wax and light papaya nose that blossom in the glass. The palate is very well balanced, with gorgeous texture, tensile from start to finish, with a bright, seductive apricot and Clementine-driven finish that is nigh irresistible. Superb." -NM, Aug/2025
93 Points - Wine Advocate
"Made from old vines planted in 1985 on decomposed shale and granite, the Brookdale 2023 Paarl Chenin Blanc (in the bottle with the green wax capsule) delivers more fruit weight and overall richness than the estate’s other white wines. Golden in tone, it layers stone fruit, apricot and quince with a waxy texture and a measured, mid-weight close. Fermented through full malolactic conversion and aged on the lees for 11 months in 500-liter French oak before further élevage in 2,000-liter Austrian Stockinger foudre, the wine reflects the depth and composure of mature Paarl vineyards. 8,623 bottles released." -ML, 2/26/26
