Van Loggerenberg Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2022

Van Loggerenberg Wines is a family-run winery based in Paarl, making low-intervention, site-specific wines from vineyards mainly in the Stellenbosch and Swartland appellations. Lukas Van Loggerenberg is one of SA’s top indie winemakers, and a hit with somms and media worldwide. Kameraderie (camaraderie, in Afrikaans) was named for the connections between friends, farmer, workers, vineyards, and vines. This is dryland bush vines planted in 1966 and 1980 on decomposed granite vineyards on the western side of Swartland’s Paardeberg. Destemmed grapes were pressed and left to settle overnight in stainless before the oldest grapes (80% of the blend) were native fermented in Italian concrete, and the younger in 500L French barrels. Each parcel was left on lees for 10 months without bâtonnage. Stencilled and structural, with a lemon lattice bracing, and crushed stones lining the taut palate of elderflower, quince, wild lemon, and dried green herbs. The finish lingers super long with stony salinity. So much energy and complexity here, making for a fascinating wine to unravel. (Treve Ring,gismondionwine.com,July 21, 2025)