Alheit Vineyards, Fire by Night, Western Cape, South Africa (150cl.), 2023

Viticulture

Fire by Night is a single origin Chenin Blanc wine grown on their own Paardeberg property called Nuwedam. The Paardeberg holds a mythical place in their hearts. It is both ground zero for the quality revolution that’s sweeping the Cape, and home base for some of the country’s wine heroes. Previously under-valued, the Paardeberg sports an embarrassment of riches: pure decomposed granite soil and an abundance of dry-farmed old bushvines.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice is very lightly settled with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation in cement eggs, foudres, and old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasted for about one month. The wine was kept on lees for around 12 months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further five months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.

Tasting Note

This really captures the beauty of the Paardeberg: clean air, mountain herbs, tight and pithy, sprung with coiled up energy, spring water purity, an impression finely etched in granite. The nose shows some lovely flinty reduction, green citrus, and thatch. The palate is high energy, high fidelity, pure and racy. The finish is bracing and long.

Food Matching

The acidity of Chenin Blanc can cut through the sweetness and complement dishes with a sweet and sour element, like certain Southeast Asian cuisines or pork chops with apples.