"Now into its sixth vintage - and so in demand that the 1,300 bottles sell out within hours - this comes from a parcel on schist soils and is comparatively generous and textured as a result. Honeyed, spicy and intense for a Chenin Blanc with only 12.5% alcohol, Ava is framed by old oak and underpinned by acidity. Delicious. 2023-28" 96pts Wine of The Year Tim Atkin MW 2022 South Africa Special Report
Tried in March 2023 with Donovan Rall and it's a beautiful wine, lovely balance, precise and focussed, lovely now but will gain extra weight and depth in time,
Made from grapes grown on schist-dominated soils, the tiny production of this wine almost never gets above 1,300 bottles. Sourced from two vineyards in the areas of Riebeeksrivier and Kasteelberg, the wine was made using ambient yeast fermentation in small used oak barrels, where it also matured.
Greg Sherwood MW: Taut, herby and mineral with stony tannins, white pear fruit, mineral phenolic grip and a glossy fresh acidity. There’s a lovely tension with linearity and reserved classicism.
Beverley Blanning MW: Acacia honey and oak barrels on the nose. The palate reveals firm, stony, mineral fruit, concentrated and tight. Shows ripeness but without excess, with creamy and toasty oak carrying the finish.
Roger Jones: Bright, focused fruit, white pear, nectarines, white nuts and minerality combining well for a complex, multi-layered wine oozing charm. The finish is pure, leaving a beautiful mouthfeel. 95 pts Decanter
