Chenin & Pinotage
Timed Online Auction, 4 - 11 September 2023
Chenin & Pinotage
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Chris and Suzanne Alheit set the wine world on fire with their maiden 2011 Cartology receiving 96 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Aiming to harness the best old vineyards across the Cape, the Cartology offered a textured old-vine Chenin Blanc Semillon blend with startling purity and depth. Passionate and focused on the expression of place, tiny, long-forgotten parcels were added to the range, and are today South Africa’s most profound white wines. We auction maiden vintages of Magnetic Makstok on the legendary ‘Skurfkop’ in the Citrusdal area, Huilkrans in the Paardeberg, La Colline in Franschhoek, and, extremely rare Radio Lazarus in Stellenbosch.
The lot consists of two bottles each Alheit Vineyards Cartology 2015 - 2017.
Cartology is one of the most recognisable Cape white blends today.
Cartology (meaning the study of maps) is a vinous exploration of Cape heritage. It’s intended to be a picture of the Cape, seen through the lens of her old vineyards, in a given vintage. The cuveé is composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines, of heritage grapes, namely Chenin blanc and Semillon. These grapes have been planted in the Cape for centuries. As a rule, the Cartology parcels are dry farmed bushvines, with a minimum age of thirty years, although most are between forty and fifty years old. Cartology has become the staple offering. It serves as a poster child for the Alheit Vineyards project, and also seems to have become a flag bearer for Cape Heritage wine in general.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
2015:
'More than ever, 2015 reflects Chenin Blanc and Semillon partnership, the latter up to 14% in this vintage. There’s an earthy, sunnily ripe aromatic quality mirrored in the rich and dense texture. Clean, lemony intensity provides a lengthy conclusion. Lovely wine from grand vintage; long potential.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5*
‘The blend has grown in size since the maiden 2011 vintage of this brilliant Chenin with 14% Semillon blend, but it’s still a very impressive wine, sourced from nine different parcels. Floral, leesy and spicy, with notes of beeswax, pear and green apple and a slight bitter twist.’ - Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2016, 94/100
‘Gorgeous, with rich lemon curd, shortbread and white peach notes contrasted with racy quinine, verbena and white ginger flavors. The long finish ripples with minerality and clementine zest. Shows terrific range and length. Chenin Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2025.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (Feb 2017)
2016:
'Heralded since maiden 2011 (5 stars), has grown in self-assurance since. Texture - some grippy density and silkiness - especially evident in 2016. There’s also brightness and vivacity to heighten layers of persistent flavour. Chenin with 11% Semillon; natural ferment, 90% old oak, 10% concrete ‘egg’.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5* (93/100)
‘On account of the heat wave, 2016 produced the smallest amount of Cartology (69 barrels) since 2013. Early picked for freshness, it’s a spicy, complex, naturally fermented blend of Chenin with 11% Semillon, showing stony minerality and notes of aniseed, beeswax and citrus peel. 2018-24.’ - Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2017, 95/100
'The nose shows lemon peel, fennel, spearmint, ripe apple and pear, perhaps a touch of honey. The palate is very vibrant and fine, with ample texture and weight. The finish is long and refreshing. For me, this is the most balanced Cartology bottling to date. Is it arrogance to feel so good about a wine? Yep, probably.' - Chris Alheit
2017:
'Chris Alheit’s “vinous exploration of Cape heritage” continues to delight. Now in its seventh vintage, it’s a cuvée of Chenin and 11% Semillon sourced from ten sites. Waxy, spicy and complete, it has leesy intensity, notes of hay and aromatic herbs and tangy, green apple acidity. 2019-27.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 94/100
'87% Chenin Blanc, 13% Semillon. A complex and subtle nose of pear, peach, apple, even some blackcurrant plus herbs and a little wet wool. Pure and fresh – hangs together really well – the finish long and dry. This is perhaps not as thrilling as Alheit’s single-vineyard bottlings but it does have a completeness about it. Drawn from vineyards across the Western Cape, this is, as always, a subtle and intellectually demanding wine. Alcohol: 13.5%.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
'The 2017 Cartology comes from old bush vines, saw no SO2 addition during ferment and, after a rough settling, was matured in used barrels. It has a very attractive bouquet of dried honey, orange blossom and beeswax, very well defined and gaining intensity all the time in the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced with a gorgeous tangy, marmalade-tinged opening. The acidity is extremely well judged (as it nearly always is) and a touch of stem ginger and rhubarb emerges toward the poised, energetic finish. Excellent.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Aug 2018)
'The 2017 Cartology Bush Vines represents all that is good about Chenin Blanc from South Africa. With so many different styles existing in South Africa today, the Cartology has a focused and refined nose with a weight on the mid-palate that can be felt by the drinker. This wine is both precise and elegant. Just by feeling the wine on the palate, you begin to sense the love and attention this wine received during its élevage. Muskmelon, creamy peach yogurt and Meyer lemon glide over the palate and will make you do a double take. Sensations of light beeswax and dusty citrus blossoms follow the fruit onto the finish. The wine is full-bodied with a full-structured finish that lingers long. This is going into my cellar, and I recommend that you grab a bottle for yourself. 1,400 cases were made.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 93/100 (Oct 2019)
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