Alheit Vineyards
About Alheit Vineyards
Alheit Vineyards is most uncommon for a new producer to achieve the desirable epithet of “cult” status so quickly, but Chris and Suzaan Alheit’s first vintage of Cartology brought an almost hysterical level of interest from the fine wine world - not a sphere prone to hyperbole!
Neal Martin (Vinous) was, and continues to be, just about as ardent an advocate for the Western Cape winery as one could imagine:
“So, you want a headline "a snappy eye-catching shelf-talker"? Here’s one. “Chris and Suzaan Alheit have made South Africa’s greatest debut Chenin Blanc.” Having chanced upon his wine in Cape Town, I met the very jet-lagged winemaker who had just landed at Heathrow. Despite his understandable lethargy, his unbridled passion came through, a man determined to seek out the best sites for Chenin Blanc and create a world-class wine. Having cut his teeth in the Mosel, Saint Emilion (at Chateau Angelus) and Napa Valley, Chris is obviously not hidebound by tradition, abiding by his own beliefs: low yields, old vines (though not necessarily the oldest), minimal use of sulphur and ageing in used oak between 4 and 12 years. He told me of his plans to seek out single vineyard sites and create a Burgundy-like portfolio of “Village” and “Premier Crus.” I have no doubt that he will succeed, although my mind boggles if this is the ethereal quality of his “Village Cru” - Neal Martin (Vinous)
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$489.89 |
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Vinous (94)The 2019 Hemelrand Vine Garden was picked early in the morning and fermented over two months (nine for the Roussanne). It has a very well-defined bouquet of red apple, fresh pear, yellow flower and strawberry scents, plus hints of chamomile in the background. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity and wonderful _mineralité_ on the finish; there’s something Alsace-like about this cuvée. One of Alheit’s more cerebral wines of the vintage. |
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|
Breede River Valley | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$477.34 |
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Vinous (96)The maiden (and alas, final) 2019 Lost & Found is Chris Alheit’s foray into sweet wines made entirely from Hanepoot, the local name for Muscat d’Alexandria, from a single vineyard in Breedekloof. Burnished amber in color, it has a captivating bouquet of marmalade, quince and mango notes, all very pure and beautifully defined. The palate is well balanced and viscous in texture, offering marmalade and quince on the entry. It actually reminds me of a Tokay Eszencia, but it is all kept amazingly fresh thanks to the razor-sharp acidity. A spellbinding sweet debut for Chris Alheit, but then again, I didn’t expect anything less. Grab this one-off while you can. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$394.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2019 Hemelrand Vine Garden was picked early in the morning and fermented over two months (nine for the Roussanne). It has a very well-defined bouquet of red apple, fresh pear, yellow flower and strawberry scents, plus hints of chamomile in the background. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity and wonderful _mineralité_ on the finish; there’s something Alsace-like about this cuvée. One of Alheit’s more cerebral wines of the vintage. |
|||||||||
|
Breede River Valley | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$431.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The maiden (and alas, final) 2019 Lost & Found is Chris Alheit’s foray into sweet wines made entirely from Hanepoot, the local name for Muscat d’Alexandria, from a single vineyard in Breedekloof. Burnished amber in color, it has a captivating bouquet of marmalade, quince and mango notes, all very pure and beautifully defined. The palate is well balanced and viscous in texture, offering marmalade and quince on the entry. It actually reminds me of a Tokay Eszencia, but it is all kept amazingly fresh thanks to the razor-sharp acidity. A spellbinding sweet debut for Chris Alheit, but then again, I didn’t expect anything less. Grab this one-off while you can. |