The 30th vintage of a rule-breaking and now iconic blend.
What is a winemaker to do when an extraordinarily warm growing season sends grape sugar levels skyrocketing too high for traditional cap classique production? Back in 1994, founder of Haute Cabrière, Achim von Arnim, rose to the challenge and vinified his chardonnay and pinot noir for a blend that had never been tried as a still wine in Franschhoek (or South Africa) before. He was struck by how lovely the young wine was. “It was backed by intensity and mystique, with a slightly pink colour from the pinot noir,” Achim remembers. “Nature had actually given me a gift.” The blend was an instant hit with public and critics alike, who fell in love with its elegance and versatility.
The evolution of an iconic blend
Over the last three decades the Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend has evolved and matured under three cellar masters. “Wine is, in essence, a distilled story of a cellar master’s dreams and capabilities,” says Achim. His dedicated hands-on approach saw the pioneering wine blend become one of the most beloved and listed white wine blends in South Africa. Working from a single Excel spreadsheet, he’d begin each vintage anew, crafting over 50 potential blends until he found the right combination to meet his standards.
As Haute Cabrière’s second-generation cellarmaster, Takuan von Arnim says, “A blend of chardonnay pinot noir is a holy thing”. Having spent 10 years co-blending with his father, Takuan devised a streamlined approach by identifying the best vineyard sites as the basis for each vintage, coaxing out the golden thread. With a light fingerprint, he reduced the pinot noir component for a fresher style while still paying respect to the Burgundian cultivars at every turn.
Joining as winemaker in 2014 and now Haute Cabrière’s third cellarmaster, Tim Hoek introduced extended lees ageing, giving the wine more texture and stability and allowing it to be released with lower residual sugar because of an already existing natural softness.
Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2024
30 years on, the first sip gives the same excitement and “aha” moment as Achim von Arnim experienced when he first sampled the new wine directly from the tank in 1994. The more dominant chardonnay adds freshness, acidity and citrus notes, while pinot noir gives the wine power and palate weight with red-fruited complexity. “I love how it evolves over time,” says Tim. “As the years pass, the chardonnay becomes more prominent. I believe the biggest surprise for most people is how well a five-year-old chardonnay pinot noir drinks.”
Food pairings
Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a versatile food wine complementing almost every style of dish from spicy chicken and tomato breedie to umfino. Bridging cultures and tastes, the ground-breaking blend has been shared around South African tables for generations. “It’s a wine that brings people together,” says Takuan von Arnim. “It’s a wine that encourages you to enjoy the moment you’re in and the people you’re with.”
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A special Heritage menu
For Heritage Day, the restaurant at Haute Cabrière has a special four-course wine-paired menu celebrating the heritage flavours of South Africa. Savour braai broodjie with peach and raisin chutney (paired with the Chardonnay Pinot Noir); cured yellowtail with tomato smoor and bokkom salt; venison loin with hasselback potatoes; and malva pudding with buchu ice cream (each dish paired with another pioneering wine from the estate).
Cost R590 (4 courses with wine pairings)
When 19 – 30 September 2024
Contact 021 876 8500, reservations@cabriere.co.za
WhatsApp: 064 928 1044
Where to find it Lambrechts Road (R45), Franschhoek
Book through DinePlan
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