2020 Alheit Hemelrand Vine Garden [V95][WS92]

Producer: Alheit 
Region: South Africa  
Blend: 32% Chardonnay, 25% Roussanne, 25% Chenin, 13% Verdelho, 5% Muscat 
Year: 2020 

Vinous, 95 Points 

"The 2020 Hemelrand Vine Garden comes from a field blend albeit planted in rows that makes it easier to manage. It is aged on the gross lees for 12 months. It has a wonderful bouquet with yellow plum, honeysuckle and a very slight petrolly scent, all supremely well defined. The palate is very well balanced with a saline entry, fine tension with a pithy, lightly spiced finish that lingers with touches of stem ginger and fennel. Maybe my pick of Alheit's 2020s? This is a profound white Rhône blend that will be fascinating to watch age in bottle." 

Wine Spectator, 92 Points 

"A vivid white, revealing rapierlike acidity enmeshed with flavors of white raspberry and peach, dried thyme and pickled ginger, with minerally stone and saline accents. Tightly meshed and linear, but opens nicely on the palate, layering the fruit character with a rich hint of graham cracker on the juicy finish. Chardonnay, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Muscat. Drink now." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"The wine gleams in the glass a lovely straw color. The nose is exotic, showing stone fruit and talcum, lemon rind and baking spice. The wine has an absolutely towering presence on the palate, robust flavors cut through by rapier acidity. A very invigorating drink." 

Alcohol: 13% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.