The major topic of conversation in the Cape winelands has been – and still is – the exceptionally wet winter we are currently experiencing, one which will be talked about for years to come.
A wet winter
Those drenching summer rains continued into autumn, and with determination and a resistance to respite, continued until the end of June. Halfway through the year, De Wetshof has already seen 250mm of rain, some 50mm less than a good annual average, and only nature knows what lies ahead for the rest of 2023.
Fortunately, the vineyards were not damaged - unlike those in wetter parts of the Cape - although the plants close to the banks of the Breede River found themselves with wet feet when the river filled and popped over the banks. But the water has, for now, abated, flushing the soils and dampening the deep sections from where the vines' roots will be replenished during the drier months of spring and early summer.
The accompanying cold weather has put the vines in a state of dormancy, allowing them to get a deep rest and muster the reserves they will need once late August and early September arrive for the growing season to commence.
Winter is a beautiful time in the Robertson winelands, with the bare vines laid out under low grey skies interspersed with periods of bright sunshine. Among the vines the teams of pruners can be seen, and the clacking of their secateurs is heard as they snip off the dead shoots to provide nodes from which the next season's growth will bud. It is not over yet, but this cold and wet winter will have a profound impact on next year's wine. And although nature does not allow its future plans to be predicted, the current conditions could very well make for an exceptional year ahead in the life-cycle of the vines, as well as the quality of next year's wines.
But it is the class of this year's wines, vintage 2023, that is currently capturing the imagination. This was recently shown at media and trade events when the De Wetshof team introduced the latest Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2023 to selected groups of media and trade representatives in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The unanimous opinion was that this year's Limestone Hill Chardonnay is one of the best renditions to date with a perfect balance between opulent citrus and white fruit and bracing freshness.
This wine was tasted together with our other Chardonnays – Bon Vallon, Finesse and The Site from vintage 2022 and Bateleur 2021, once again giving guests an insight into the diversity found in our five site-specific wines made from one grape variety.
Meet the new kid on the block
There is a new kid on the block which also commanded attention at these presentations, namely the De Wetshof Calcrete 2023.
The term Calcrete originated from a collective of Robertson Chardonnay producers who wish to create an awareness of the distinctive style of wine made from the region's famous limestone-rich calcareous soils. Specific local wineries have been invited to join the collective of Calcrete producers, each submitting an unwooded Chardonnay made in a bright minerality-driven style to which only Robertson can lay claim. Wines conforming to this unique style will be bottled as "Calcrete" under each individual producer's label, and this term is confined to Chardonnays made from Robertson terroir.
Shown at the recent presentations, the De Wetshof Calcrete 2023 truly captured the imagination together with CEO Johann de Wet's introduction of this collective concept. This co-operation between Robertson's winemakers and the offering of an exciting new wine category named Calcrete promises to be one of the region's most exciting developments to date and the roll-out of the other producers' Calcrete wines is being eagerly anticipated.
Rosé is currently one of the wine world's most popular categories, and the market for this fresh wine style with its hues of onion skin and floral pink is growing worldwide, with South African being no exception. De Wetshof's Lilya Rosé has garnered a fervent following, and besides its appeal, this wine is being recognised for its exceptional quality.
During the National Wine Challenge/Top 100 competition held earlier this year, De Wetshof Lilya Rose 2023 was awarded the title of Grand Cru National Champion Best in Class Rosé, indeed an honour when taking into account that there are so many top-quality rosés being made in South Africa. And in the same competition, the aforementioned De Wetshof Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2023 secured a Double Gold Medal, ensuring the positive opinions of those attending our media and trade launches was backed by the wine experts judging the National Wine Challenge.
Exceptional ratings for De Wetshof's Chardonnays also came from the Decanter World Wine Awards held in London. The Site Chardonnay 2022 received a 94pt score which represents profound recognition in this famous international wine competition attracting entries from all the world's wine-producing countries. Other commendable ratings emanating from the Decanter Awards were Bateleur 2021 (91pts), Lesca 2022 (90pts) and Bon Vallon 2022 (90pts).