Momento Chenin Blanc Verdelho 2022

Momento Chenin Blanc Verdelho

Region: Western Cape, South Africa

Vintage: 2022

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Chenin Blanc, Chenin Blanc Verdelho

ABV: 13%

Aromas of quince, white peach and grapefruit rind alongside notes of hay, oatmeal and a wet stone minerality adding freshness and focus. The palate reveals further notes of crunchy green apple, adding freshness and precision from the Verdelho component, leading to a long and precise finish that is dry and pithy.

The Chenin Blanc grapes come from 43-year-old, dry farmed bush vines in the Swartland planted on decomposed granite soils. The Verdelho grapes come from a vineyard in Voor-Paardeberg planted on decomposed granite and clay, as well as a vineyard in Bot River grown on Bokkeveld shale. The decomposed granite soils, combined with the Swartland’s warm and arid climate, produce excellent richness and generosity on the palate. The shale and clay soils, as well as Bot River’s Atlantic influence, contribute texture and focus.

Marelise employs a minimalist approach in the cellar to ensure the purest expression of vineyard and variety. The grapes were gently whole bunch basket-pressed. Fermentation took place in 225 and 400 litre old French oak barrels using indigenous yeasts. Some of the fine lees was added back to the juice in barrel to allow for more complex characters and textures to develop. The wine was aged for 10 months in barrel following 100% malolactic fermentation, and bottled without fining

Born from a passion for Mediterranean varieties and old-vine fruit, Momento is the solo project from dynamic winemaker Marelise Niemann. Marelise honed her craft at Beaumont Family Wines from 2007 to 2014, sharing cellar space with Crystallum’s Peter-Allan Finlayson and Thorne & Daughters’ John Thorne-Seccombe. She also worked extensively in California, the Rhône, Burgundy, and Portugal. Her fascination with Grenache was sparked in 2010 while in Priorat, where, together with winemaker Eben Sadie, she was impressed by the vibrant fruit produced by old vines. Returning to South Africa, she sought out parcels of old vine Grenache to make her own elegant and soulful wines. In 2023, she was named Tim Atkin’s ‘Young Winemaker of the Year’ in recognition of her work.