Varieties: 93% Chenin Blanc, 7% Sémillon

Few South African wines inspire the same reverence as Cartology – the bottle that placed Chris and Suzaan Alheit firmly on the world stage. The 2025 release is a masterclass in heritage and terroir, dialled in with precision, tension, and layered flavour.

Crafted from old‑vine Chenin Blanc and Sémillon, Cartology 2025 is sourced from rare, dry‑farmed bush‑vine sites across the Western Cape. Each vineyard contributes its voice – from the rugged Skurfberg and Piekenierskloof to the classic soils of Stellenbosch – culminating in a wine that captures the essence of the region. If there’s one Alheit wine to own, it’s this.

The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation took place in cements eggs, old foudres, and old barrels (various sizes). Fermentation of various parcels lasted anywhere between 3 weeks and 11 months. The wine was kept on lees for around 12 months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further five months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking

Tasting Notes: Naartjie peel, ripe pear and fennel, sweet herbs.Also, some other comforting scent that I can’t quite lay hold of. Reminds me of clementine cake. Palate is bright and direct, mouth filling and sapid. Savoury edge. Slow burn beauty. fruit, spice, and florals interwoven with a mineral edge. A taut “rockpool” tension holds the centre, while the finish stretches on for more than two minutes – a hallmark of its pedigree.

‘93% Chenin Blanc, 7% Semillon – from old vineyards across the Western Cape. Fermented and matured for 12 months in a combination of concrete eggs, foudres and old barrels. Pear, peach, citrus, hay, herbs and some flinty reduction on the nose. The palate combines pure, dense fruit with bright acidity, finishing long, savoury and gently pithy. So very tasty and possessing real presence. Alc: 13%.’ – Christian Eedes 96/100

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.00% | TA 5.86g/l | pH 3.39 | RS 1.4g/l