CHI RIESLING
VINTAGES 2018 - 2023
Chi Riesling 2023
– production 8000 bottles by Jessica Saurwein
Grape origin:
65% of the blend’s fruit comes from Casey’s Ridge Vineyard, Elgin on loamy and very rocky red slate soils. (Riesling clones WR110F and vineyard was planted 2011.) The other 35% of the blend De Rust Vineyard, Elgin on decomposed Bokkeveld Shale. (Riesling clones 110 & 239 and vineyard was planted 2006.)
Vintage 2023:
2023 was a great vintage with a very long, cool ripening
Keywords for this vintage: mid palate weight, sunshine in a glass
Winemaking:
Grapes were hand-picked, cooled, then hand-sorted, destemmed and pressed. Spontaneous fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, which lasted about 6 weeks until optimal residual sugar balance achieved at about 14,0 g/ l. The wine was prepared for bottling and bottled after 2 months in tank.
Experience:
Fragrant citrus blossom, yellow stone fruits, white pear, ginger, Piña colada, honeysuckle, flint
The story:
Chi means “life force” and Chi stands for CHIUTA (an African rain god). Situated in the fertile Elgin valley, the picturesque vineyard site inspired the creation of this crisp, handcrafted Riesling.
If you like - Ideal Cuisine:
Salads/ cheeses/ Asian-style dishes with a bit of spice/ sweetness
Technicalities:
Residual Sugar: 14,2 g/l
pH: 3.1
Total acidity: 8,2 g/l
Alcohol: 11,5 %
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May the “Chi” be with you!
Chi Riesling 2022
– production 6540 bottles by Jessica Saurwein
Grape origin:
60% of the blend’s fruit comes from Casey’s Ridge Vineyard, Elgin on loamy and very rocky red slate soils. (Riesling clones WR110F and vineyard was planted 2011.)
The other 40% of the blend De Rust Vineyard, Elgin on decomposed Bokkeveld Shale. (Riesling clones 110 & 239 and vineyard was planted 2006.)
Vintage 2022:
2022 was a great vintage with a very long, cool ripening
Keywords: mid palate weight, sunshine in a glass
Winemaking:
Grapes were hand-picked, cooled, then hand-sorted, destemmed and pressed. Spontaneous fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, which lasted about 6 weeks until optimal residual sugar balance achieved at about 11,5 g/ l. The wine was prepared for bottling and bottled after 3 months in tank.
Experience:
Fragrant citrus blossom, yellow stone fruits, white pear, ginger, Piña colada, honey suckle, flint
The story:
Chi means “life force” and Chi stands for CHIUTA (an African rain god).
Situated in the fertile Elgin valley, the picturesque vineyard site inspired
the creation of this crisp, handcrafted Riesling.
If you like - Ideal Cuisine:
Salads/ cheeses/ Asian-style dishes with a bit of spice/ sweetness
Technicalities:
Residual Sugar: 11,5 g/l
Total acidity: 7,2 g/l
Alcohol: 11,5 %
​
May the “Chi” be with you!
​
92/100, Neal Martin
16/20, Julia Harding
92/100, Christian Eedes
94+/100, Greg Sherwood
Chi Riesling 2021
– production 7430 bottles by Jessica Saurwein
Grape origin:
60% of the blend’s fruit comes from Casey’s Ridge Vineyard, Elgin on loamy and very rocky red slate soils. (Riesling clones WR110F and vineyard was planted 2011.)
The other 40% of the blend De Rust Vineyard, Elgin on decomposed Bokkeveld Shale. (Riesling clones 110 & 239 and vineyard was planted 2006.)
Vintage 2021:
2021 was a good vintage with a long cool late ripening. Keywords for this vintage: mid palate fullness, terpene aromas.
Winemaking:
Grapes were hand-picked, cooled, then hand-sorted, destemmed and pressed. Spontaneous fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, which lasted about 6 weeks until optimal residual sugar balance achieved at about 11,5 g/ l. The wine was prepared for bottling and bottled after 3 months in tank and released after another 3 months in bottle.
​
Experience:
Fragrant citrus blossom, green melon, Yellow stone fruits, white pear, ginger, Piña colada, honeysuckle, flint, cool earth
The story:
Chi means “life force” and Chi stands for CHIUTA (an African rain god). Situated in the fertile Elgin valley, the picturesque vineyard site inspired the creation of this crisp, handcrafted Riesling.
If you like - Ideal Cuisine:
Salads/ cheeses/ Asian-style dishes with a bit of spice/ sweetness
Technicalities:
Residual Sugar: 11,5 g/l
Total acidity: 7,4 g/l
Alcohol: 11,5 %
​
Ratings:
​
93/100, Christian Eedes
93/100, Tim Atkin
Chi Riesling 2020
– production 5900 bottles by Jessica Saurwein
Grape origin:
60% of the blend’s fruit comes from Casey’s Ridge Vineyard, Elgin on loamy and very rocky red slate soils. (Riesling clones WR110F and vineyard was planted 2011.)
The other 40% of the blend De Rust Vineyard, Elgin on decomposed Bokkeveld Shale. (Riesling clones 110 & 239 and vineyard was planted 2006.)
Vintage 2020:
2020 was a great vintage with a cool late ripening for Riesling. Keywords for this vintage: palate weight, texture, citrus aromas
Winemaking:
Grapes are hand-picked, cooled, then hand-sorted, destemmed and pressed. Spontaneous fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, which lasted about 6 weeks until optimal residual sugar balance achieved. The wine was prepared for bottling and bottled after 3 months in tank and released after another 2 months in bottle.
Experience:
Fragrant orange blossom, green melon, lime, Yellow stone fruits, Pina colada, honey suckle, flint
The story:
Chi means “life force” and Chi stands for CHIUTA (an African rain god). Situated in the fertile Elgin valley, the picturesque vineyard site inspired the creation of this crisp, handcrafted Riesling.
If you like - Ideal Cuisine:
Salads/ cheeses/ Asian-style dishes with a bit of spice/ sweetness
Technicalities:
Residual Sugar: 8,8 g/l
Total acidity: 7,1 g/l
Alcohol: 12,3%
​
Ratings:
​
93/100, Christian Eedes
93/100, Tim Atkin
Chi Riesling 2019
– around 2600 bottles produced by Jessica Saurwein
Grape origin:
Casey’s Ridge Vineyard, Elgin. The red slate soil is loamy and very rocky, Riesling clone WR110F and the vineyard was planted 2011.
Vintage 2019:
2019 was a great vintage with a cool late ripening for Riesling. Spontaneous fermentation lasted just over 9 weeks and has palate weight, texture and citrus aromas
+ fruity flavours, +texture
Descriptors of the nose:
Citrus, lemon sherbet, floral, fynbos, rose geranium, apple blossom
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Descriptors of the flavour & palate: zesty, fruity, citrus
​
The story:
Chi means “life force” and Chi stands for CHIUTA (an African rain god). Situated in the fertile Elgin valley, the picturesque vineyard site inspired the creation of this crisp, handcrafted Riesling.
If you like - Ideal Cuisine:
Salads/ cheeses/ Asian-style dishes with a bit of spice/ sweetness
Technicalities:
Residual Sugar: 7,6 g/l
Total acidity: 7,0 g/l
Alcohol: 11,8%
​
Ratings:
​
91/100, David Swingler (Platter’s)
92/100, Tim Atkin
16,5/20, Jancis Robinson
Chi Riesling 2018
(First Vintage)
– around 2000 bottles produced by Jessica Saurwein
Grape origin:
Casey’s Ridge Vineyard, Elgin. The red slate soil is loamy and very rocky
Vintage 2018:
2018 was a dry vintage in the Cape, but Elgin had sufficient soil water and even supplied the greater Cape region with some of its water. Spontaneous fermentation lasted 2 months and has added good palate weight.
+ fruity flavours, +texture
Descriptors of the nose:
Citrus, floral, fynbos, rose geranium, apple blossom, white stone fruit
Descriptors of the flavour & palate:
zesty, fruity, citrus peel, lemon sherbet
​
The story:
Chi means “life force” and Chi stands for CHIUTA (an African rain god). Situated in the fertile Elgin valley, the picturesque vineyard site inspired the creation of this crisp, handcrafted Riesling.
If you like - Ideal Cuisine:
Salads/ cheeses/ Asian-style dishes with a bit of spice and/or a bit of sweetness
Technicalities:
Residual Sugar: 7,4 g/l
Total acidity: 7,6 g/l
Alcohol: 12,0%
​
Ratings:
​
91/100, David Swingler (Platter’s)
92/100, Tim Atkin
16,5/20, Jancis Robinson
