CHENIN BLANC
2022 La Cosmica Swartland Tim Hillock
Grapes | Chenin Blanc |
Colour | White |
Origin | South Africa |
Village | Swartland |
ABV | 13% |
This year Tim's sensational Chenin has a new name as he felt it was lacking some personality - and he wanted it to make more sense alongside his Paradiso Syrah - Cosmica is from the Spanish for The Cosmos and refers to the panoramic view of the stars from the vineyard. A sight that Tim has fallen in love with after constant late-night and early-morning grape sampling with a headtorch. As the farm is so far from the nearest town it allows the most amazing star gazing. You can see the Milky Way and even some shooting stars if you care to look long enough. The vineyard and the winemaking is exactly the same as the winning 2021, but the vessel has changed slightly – just to a larger Stockinger foudre. The result is a hugely expressive, but fresh and long Chenin. Gently intense, with pretty hedgerow flowers, fresh-cut green herbs, waxy lemons and a nutty middle. Poised perfectly and fisninshing long and bright. L&S (Jun 2024)
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*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.
Tim Hillock's refined Swartland Chenin Blanc uses grapes from an old-vine parcel on schist soils. Naturally fermented in Stockinger foudres, it's a fresh, precise, medium-bodied style with fennel, lemongrass and citrus peel flavours and thrilling minerality and palate length. 2023-28 Drinking range: 2023 - 2028 Rating: 94 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Sept 2023)
The 2022 La Cosmica Chenin Blanc, at 13% alcohol, exudes a blend of yellow apple skins, sweet citrus, wax melon rind, lemon pastry cream, fresh citrus blossoms and vanilla. Medium-bodied and balanced on the palate, the wine offers a soft nutty character while maintaining a fresh, food-friendly finish. A total of 2,964 bottles were produced. This Chenin Blanc was fermented and aged in a Stockinger foudre on the primary lees for 10 months. Drinking range: 2023 - 2033 Rating: 93 Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate (May 2024)
Tim Hillock
Tim trained at the University of Stellenbosch in viticulture and oenology with another of our new boys - Albert Van Niekerk. Having set up base at his uncle's beautiful farm in the heart of the Swartland, Tim shares cellar-space with some brilliant winemakers.
This is a fabulous microcosm of South Africa's incredibly collaborative wine scene today. Where independent, small-scale vignerons - young and old - work together, feeding off each other's experience and enthusiasm. Callie Louw from Porseleinberg and the towering Donovan Rall are neighbours and mentors here.
Tim is young, ambitious and talented and loves working alongside these highly respected winemakers. Tim's charm, enthusiasm and talent mean that he is already getting his hands on top-quality fruit from small parcels and contracting vineyards that make you swoon.
The aim here is to deliver expressive, fresh and nuanced wines that illustrate in the glass, the unique story of each site.
This means that in the cellar the wines are gently coaxed into life. Fermentations are spontaneous with no interventions, and Tim uses various vessels for the élevage including concrete, beautiful Stockinger casks and amphora too - depending on the variety and the vintage. Tim's vineyards are mostly Swartland, but he found the fresh climes of Ceres too hard to resist and also makes some Pinot Noir from fruit on this cool, high plain.
The L&S July Mixed Case
Introducing our monthly mixed cases - a selection of wines chosen by the team as they are drinking well right now and perfect for this time of year.
Our July edition features everything you need for summer entertaining and dining al fresco, namely: crisp whites, elegant rosés, and vibrant reds. We've included two bottles of each to please a crowd.
Order for free delivery on the case and enjoy an extra £7 off from our usual discounted case price.
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