Pilgrim Wines Chenin Blanc 2021 by Henry Kotze

Pilgrim Wines Chenin Blanc 2021

Henry Kotze is an awarded Cape Wine Maker with vast experience in winemaking. He has had the good fortune to have worked with some well-known Wine people, such as Pierre Luton of Chateau Cheval Blanc on the right bank of the Gironde River in Bordeaux, France.

Henry Kotze, nosing his wine

Henry produces Pilgrim Wines and in celebration of #DrinkChenin Day on Saturday 10^th June, I bring this wine to you.

The grapes Henry uses for this wine come from the Wellington, Paarl, and Voor Paardeberg Wine Appellations. The soils in which the vineyards are planted are mostly Paardeberg Sandstone and Granitic Clay. Prevailing cooling breezes come off the Atlantic Ocean too ameliorate Summer heat in the vineyards.

Foot treading Chenin Blanc

Once in the cellar and cooled, the grapes are divided into 3 components. Half of the grapes were whole bunch pressed and the juice was fermented in 300, and 500, litre neutral French Oak Barrels. 40% of the harvest was destemmed, crushed, and fermented. Daily punch downs took place which allowed for maximum extraction of flavours and aromas. The wine was left on the skins for a week after fermentation. The remaining 10% was foot treaded as whole bunches and left in the bins to ferment naturally. This component was matured in a 225 litre French Oak barrel.

The best fertiliser for a vineyard is the winemakers boots

Pour

From a Burgundy shaped bottle, closed with natural cork. The label is simple and elegant. The aromas are of citrus, blood orange, flint stone, and white flowers. On entry, and through to the gently waning aftertaste, there is a fine line of acidity, the brilliant fruit, a touch of spin drift and good support from the oak. An excellent wine, eminently drinkable now, though will improve with a couple of years of cool cellaring.

Nina Timm’s Pork Chops with a creamy mustard sauce

Pair

The Pilgrim Wines Chenin Blanc 2021 is a fine wine to drink before and into a meal. It has sufficient oomph to take on quite full flavours. Nina Timm’s Pork Chops with a creamy mustard sauce is a perfect partner.

Click HERE for her recipe.

Nina Timm of myeasycooking