“A wine that marries power, depth and incredible focus and finesse.” - Tim Atkin MW, 97 points

A Chenin Blanc from an ungrafted Skurfberg vineyard planted at 1,500 feet above sea level, it benefits from cooler temperatures than elsewhere and that shows in the taut intensity of the wine itself. Crackling citrus, mineral salts, crème fraiche and lime all draped in ripe stone fruits, it’s a phenomenal wine of tension and concentration and it’s that depth of flavour that Chris specialises in. He focuses on picking at optimum ripeness, eschewing the current fad for picking early to retain higher acidity, because he believes you have to snap the vineyard when it is in its prime, that is how you honour what the vineyard is trying to achieve. 13.6% alc. Drink now-2038.

Press review:

Tim Atkin MW: “After a two year break - best not to spend too long discussing why with Chris Alheit - Magnetic North is back to delight its many fans in 2023. Sourced from vines planted in 1981 and 1984 at 520 metres on the Van Lill farm on Citrusdal Mountain, this is a wine that marries power, depth and incredible focus and finesse. Racy, ferrous and very stony, with lots of underlying structure, notes of oyster shell, pink grapefruit and umami, negligible oak and a tapering finish. Drink 2028-2035.” 97 points

EXTREMELY LIMITED