Young Guns and New Wave Producers

Timed Online Auction, 17 - 27 November 2023

Young Gun and New Wave Producers

Sold for

ZAR 5 628
Lot 9
  • Alheit Vineyards; Hemelrand Vine Garden; 2016; 6 (1 x 6); 750ml


Lot Estimate
ZAR 5 500 - 8 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 5 628

About this Item

2016 Hemelrand Vine Garden
6 (1 x 6) 750ml

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.

Hemelrand is situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360 meters above sea level, on gravelly clay, and Sandstone. The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, and Muscat Blanc a Petit grain. However, as mentioned, the proportions of the different grapes produced significantly varies each vintage. Viticulturally speaking, this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity.

Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

The only one of Chris Alheit’s wines that comes from the Hemel en Aarde Ridge, right outside the winery, this is a blend of Roussanne, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Muscat. Just off dry, with rose water, orange zest and stone fruit flavours, balancing acidity and a leesy, textured mid-palate. 2017-21.’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 94/100

‘From mixed vineyard next to Alheits’ Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge cellar. Roussanne-led 2016 with telling 3% fragrant muscat de Frontignan. Its richness blossoms with soft summer fruits, including white peach. Lovely energy, fruit-filled length. Much like 2015 (5 stars, 95 pts), 30% fermented/matured in concrete ‘egg’; balance older barrels.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5* (93/100)

‘A pale pineapple yellow, this white blend is laced with dusty white citrus minerality, limestone, grapefruit zest and wet chalk. There’s a real old world restraint permeating this wine. The palate is intense and concentrated, bursting with yellow citrus, white peach, pineapple pastille, salty lemon and a honied, Bon Bon finish. I was expecting this young wine to be a lot tighter and leaner, but once again, the 2015 vintage intensity and opulence clearly shines through. Add to that the Alheit blending skill, and you’re gifted a magical blend, seamlessly woven together, with a complex, slightly oily finish. Lovely now but will be even better in 2 to 3 years time.’ - Greg Sherwood MW, 93/100 (Dec 2016)

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