Chenin Blanc MCC

Southeast Asian cuisine or pork chops with apples.

De Morgenzon is Dutch for the morning sun a fitting name for this boutique property high on the Stellenboschkloof which is the first to be touched by the rising sun's rays. De Morgenzon's high altitude vineyards command sweeping views of Table Mountain and Cape Point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Embracing the philosophy that a biodiverse and ecologically sensitive environment produces infinitely better grapes proprietors Wendy and Hylton Appelbaum have established De Morgenzon as a 91 hectare garden interspersed with 55 hectares of carefully tended vineyards where abundant wildflowers flourish between the vines. The vineyards are currently farmed naturally and the estate is in the process of converting to organic farming.

DeMorgenzon is renowned for producing world class Chenin Blanc. Cool ripening conditions and deep granite-based soils result in crisp and textured wines. Vineyards destined for MCC are managed specifically to provide good sun exposure to grapes that are being picked earlier than usual. 2019 was a cooler vintage than the previous hot and dry years. Whilst the vineyards benefited from decent winter rainfall there were some latent stress effects from the previous year’s drought conditions. This resulted in some uneven budding and careful harvesting was necessary to achieve a total pick of optimum ripeness. Cool conditions during the early part of the ripening resulted in high acidities and low pH, resulting in wines that are fresh, precise and bright.

The barrel fermented portion is allowed to ferment naturally to dryness with periodic battonage of the lees throughout the ageing process of 10 months. Base wine components are then blended, bottled and refermented in bottle, followed by a minimum ageing of 18 months before disgorgement. Residual sugar of the disgorged wine is adjusted from time to time to maintain a final bottled residual sugar of between 3 and 5 g/l. This adjustment is done with a “Late Harvest” style of Chenin Blanc which is fermented and aged in French oak casks.

Chenin Blanc grapes are handpicked and harvested for freshness and acidity at between 19.5º and 20.5º Balling. Grapes are pre-cooled and then whole bunch-pressed with the juice allowed to settle naturally. Half of the wine is naturally fermented in stainless steel tank, with fermentation being stopped to retain a certain percentage of the grapes own sugar.