“Glorious. Really compelling. Thrilling. I didn't want to put the glass down.” - JancisRobinson.com

Named after the second type of visible dawn (after ‘Astronomical Dawn’, but before ‘Civil Dawn’), Nautical Dawn is a Chenin Blanc from False Bay, where Chris says the vineyards produce “athletic grapes”. Terrific tension and with just a glimmer of the lemon compote, apple and heather honey in abeyance. I would stash this beauty away for a year or two and drink it over the following decade. 13.5% alc. Only 2 large foudres were filled in 2022. Drink now-2036.
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Press review:

Tim Atkin MW: "Nautical Dawn has only been made as a single vineyard release since 2017, but has garnered deservedly high praise. Using grapes from a 1978 vineyard close to the ocean on the granite outcrop of the Sinai Hill, this is a Chenin Blanc that supersedes its vintage with steely intensity, lots of stony minerality, notes of kelp and sea salt, lemon and lime fruit and a savoury, umami-like finish.Drink now-2032." 98 points

JancisRobinson.com “100% Chenin Blanc, single vineyard. Granite soils. A vineyard right on the coast: 'You can see the waves crashing on the shore from here', says Alheit. Chamomile and cinnamon, cooked apple and salt-pickled lemon on the nose. Almost like fine-ground sand in texture. Curiously, there is something 'purple' about the way this wine tastes, like blueberries and wisteria. Long, salty finish. Massively chewy texture. Glorious. Really compelling. Thrilling. I didn't want to put the glass down. (TC). Drink now-2034.” 17.5 points

Winemaking

The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice is very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation took place in two 2,000 litre foudres. Fermentation lasted for about two months. The wine was kept on lees for twelve months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further six months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.

EXTREMELY LIMITED. MAXIMUM 2 BOTTLES PER CUSTOMER. NOT AVAILABLE ON ITS OWN, MUST BE PART OF AN ORDER THAT MEETS OUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF 6 BOTTLES. UK MAINLAND ONLY.