Holden Manz Proprietors White Blend 2023

Holden Manz Wine Estate is situated in the southern corner of the Franschhoek Valley, surrounded by the mountains and waterways that define this distinctive part of the Cape Winelands. While the estate itself is best known for its Franschhoek red wines, the Proprietors White Blend takes a broader approach, bringing together carefully selected fruit from Franschhoek, Banhoek, Wellington and Simonsberg-Paarl. This gives the wine a combination of freshness, fruit intensity and regional complexity. For the 2023 vintage, the four varieties were hand-selected in the cool of the early morning and vinified separately before being blended. Indigenous yeast fermentation took place in a combination of 225- and 500-litre French oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks, with around 30% of the wine barrel matured. Twelve months of lees contact adds texture and creaminess while retaining the wine's freshness.

Colour: Pale lemon-gold with a bright, youthful appearance.
Nose: Fresh citrus and lemon peel lead into apricot, tangerine and white blossom, with subtle honeysuckle and a lightly flinty character adding complexity.
Palate: Dry, full-bodied and textured, with layers of citrus and stone fruit balanced by lively acidity. Twelve months on the lees gives the wine a creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while mineral and lightly saline notes provide freshness and definition. The French oak is restrained, contributing texture and complexity rather than dominating the fruit.
Finish: Long and smooth, with citrus, white flowers and subtle mineral notes lingering on the palate. The combination of creamy texture and fresh acidity gives the finish both richness and precision.