In 2002, Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin took on the challenge of establishing a winery in a remote corner of the Walker Bay wine region. They were convinced that this particular location offered ideal conditions for producing high-quality wines. Vines had never before been planted on the forty hectares of undulating land on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, making the risk of viruses very low. They set out with determination to transform this site into a model winery. It was anything but an easy task. Both grew up in wine-loving families and, armed with the necessary knowledge, were determined and convinced of the area's potential. And so, five years later, they were ready for their first harvest. Since then, they have been working hard to make a name for themselves with their high-quality wines.
The grapes for this Cool Climate Chenin Blanc come from a fifteen-year-old vineyard in the higher—and therefore cooler—section of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The grapes are gently pressed after harvest and meticulously vinified in 228-liter oak barrels. After fermentation, the wine is aged on the lees for another eight months. This adds complexity and rounds out the wine's flavor. To preserve the fruitiness and crisp acidity, malolactic fermentation is avoided. This is a wine as remarkable for its purity as for its complexity.
On the nose, this Creation Cool Climate Chenin Blanc has hints of soft ginger, tomato leaf, apple peel, and a light note of honey that casts its initial spell. On the palate, the magic unfolds with crisp quince and fresh green apple that flirt with the softness of coconut milk in the background. The cool climate in which this Chenin Blanc is grown is remarkable for both its purity and its joyful complexity.
