2025 Natte Valleij - Axle Chenin Blanc (750ml)

Natte Valleij is a historic Cape Dutch farm on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg mountain outside Stellenbosch, brought back to life in 2005 by third-generation winemaker Alexander Milner. While Milner has built much of his reputation on site-specific old vine Cinsault, the Axle Chenin Blanc holds a personal place in the range, made originally as a tribute to his wife's love of the variety. The estate's guiding approach favors natural, low-intervention winemaking that lets old vineyard sites speak for themselves.

The wine comes from a single block of dryland bush vines planted in 1985 in Darling, a coastal region prized for old Chenin Blanc plantings. The grapes are fermented naturally in seasoned barrels using indigenous yeasts, then aged on the lees for nine months, a process that builds texture without adding overt oak flavor.

The nose offers ripe pear, subtle spice, and a striking minerality, while the palate turns textural, layered with wild pear, herbal lemon, and a touch of richness from the lees aging. Crisp acidity and a flinty, tangerine pith finish keep the wine feeling fresh despite its depth. Pour it with roast chicken, grilled prawns, or a semi-soft cheese.