Nautical Dawn is a single origin Chenin blanc wine. Since its maiden vintage in 2017 it has helped to showcase the raw talent of the False Bay coast of Stellenbosch - a vital part of the Cape Chenin story. The wine has quite an extreme nature and a strong personality. Even with early picking, this vineyard delivers huge flavour with intense concentration and ripping natural acid. 

The Name: Nautical dawn is the phase of dawn that falls between astrological dawn and civil dawn, dark enough to still see the stars for navigation, light enough to hoist a sail. Alheit wanted a name that would take the wine close to the sea and facing East.

The fruit comes from Rustenhof farm in Firgrove, southern Stellenbosch, where a small granite hill called Sinai rises above the coast. From its crown, a few small granite domes protrude from the soil, and you can see the waves breaking just four kilometres away. The hillside is planted top to bottom with dry-farmed bushvine Chenin Blanc, but Nautical Dawn comes specifically from a parcel planted in 1978 on the upper slope, with vine rows that follow the contour of the hill. The shallow granite soil warms quickly, making this one of Alheit's earliest picks of the season, despite the relentless South-East wind that batters this part of Stellenbosch.

Grapes are hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice is only very lightly settled, Alheit prefers cloudy raw juice, with no additions before wild fermentation begins in old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation runs for around two months. The wine then spends roughly 12 months on lees, followed by a further five months resting in tank on fine lees without fining, before bottling. Simple, careful winemaking.

Tasting Notes: High toned and aromatic on the nose, with ripe spanspek and sour apricot at the core, layered with a touch of reduction that reads as something slightly unwashed, giving a flinty, mineral edge typical of this granite site. The palate arrives with real confidence and energy, carrying the natural concentration this old, dry-farmed vineyard delivers even from an early pick. The texture is still very tight and youthful, framed by keen, taut acidity that keeps the wine linear and precise rather than broad. Bone dry, and long on the finish, with a saline quality that echoes the vineyard's proximity to the sea.

Food Pairing: Nautical Dawn's tension and concentration make it a natural partner for fresh seafood: think grilled langoustine, oysters on the half shell, or a simple sole meunière, where the wine's saline edge and keen acidity mirror the food. Ceviche and ceviche-style dishes work well too, the citrus and freshness echoing the wine's own energy. Its underlying concentration also means it can hold its own against richer preparations, roast chicken with lemon and thyme, pan-fried hake with brown butter, or a creamy risotto, without losing definition. On the cheese board, look to soft, rinded styles like a young Camembert or a washed-rind cheese, where the wine's touch of reduction finds an echo. Serve well chilled, around 10-12°C, to keep the acid and minerality sharp.

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.0% | TA 6.68g/L | pH 3.27 | RS 1.6g/L