Botanica - Mary Delany - Chenin Blanc2023
WHITE WINE
- Producer Botanica
- Blend Chenin Blanc
- Country South Africa
- Region Olifants River
- Appellation Citrusdial Mountain
- UPC 6 009802 01870 5
Reviews
Tim Atkin 95
Consistently one of the best Chenin Blancs in the Cape, the Mary Delany Collection uses grapes from a 1960 block between 450 and 500 metres on the Citrusdal Mountain. Fermented and aged in older barrels, it has aromas of hay and wild flowers, flavours of lime and passion fruit, subtle wood and a tangy, tapering finish. An exceptional wine from an exceptional site.
by TA, Tim Atkin , 2025
Wine Advocate 93
The Botanica Wines 2023 Citrusdal Mountain Chenin Blanc The Mary Delany Collection boasts a beautiful floral design on the front label, and those pretty graphics match the linear presentation and sharp fruit nuances of this bright South African white. White flower, plumeria, ponderosa lemon, summer peach and crushed stone lift from the bouquet. The mouthfeel has a creamy element that adds to the wine's mid-weight texture. These grapes are purchased from a vineyard planted in 1960 on their own roots near Clanwilliam in the Olifants River Valley in the Western Cape.
by ML, Wine Advocate , 2025
Technical Details
Description
The Mary Delany Collection is crafted from grapes sourced from unique vineyard sites throughout the Cape. Each of the labels depicts a botanical collage created by British artist Mary Delany. These remarkable works of art were hand crafted in the late 1700s using hundreds of tiny pieces of cut paper.Tasting notes
Complex and elegant, with layers of pure, concentrated pear, citrus and stone fruit flavors, mouth-watering acidity and a tangy, mineral core.Vinification
The grapes for this wine were harvested at optimum ripeness, hand sorted, crushed and destemmed. The juice was immediately pressed and cold settled for 2 days at 10°C. Half was spontaneously fermented in stainless steel tanks and half was spontaneously fermented in 400 liter French barrels. After fermentation, the wine was left on the fine lees in stainless steel tanks/oak barrels for 9 months.Estate
Founded in 2009 by owner and self-taught winemaker Ginny Povall, an intrepid American who fell in love with the beautiful Cape winelands and purchased Protea Heights farm in Stellenbosch’s Devon. Established in the late 1940s, Protea Heights was the first farm in South Africa to cultivate indigenous protea flowers commercially (South Africa’s national flower). Inspired by this horticultural history, it was only natural that Ginny would choose to develop her wine brands and labels with a botanical flair.Today the estate boasts eight varieties of proteas (four of which are hybridized species unique to the property), largely destined for export to Europe. The 53 acre farm is planted with 24 acres of indigenous flowers, which bloom throughout the year and 12 acres of organically farmed, high density vineyards. Planted between 2009 and 2010, the estate vines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Albariño.