Veiled Vine, Old Vine Semillon 2016

Preserving old vines has become a crusade for many in South Africa and this wine, which is from two historic vineyards planted in 1942 and 1962, is part of the process. This Old Vine Semillon, was unearthed to showcase Franschhoek Semillon, one of the most important varieties in the region. Part of the uniqueness of this wine is how Mother Nature simply decided that some of the Semillon would naturally mutate to Semillon Gris and these grapes were co-fermented to celebrate this unique phenomenon. The wine was also aged for several years in bottle and has now been released seven years later to allow the potential of Semillon to be truly expressed. The grapes were whole bunch pressed, followed by spontaneous primary fermentation. The majority of the lees went into 3rd fill French oak, where the wine underwent no malolactic fermentation and with no bâtonnage. After ten months aging in oak and a further six months aging in stainless steel, the wine was bottled. Only 1100 bottle were made.

Veiled Vineyards is a project to unearth wines made in secret, by maverick winemakers in hidden cellars, or rare parcels previously destined to be blended, now set free to express their unique individuality and story.