Alvi's Drift 221 Chenin Blanc
R104 _

History
In 1928, the All-Black rugby team, known as "the invincibles," were unassailable. They arrived on the shores of South Africa aboard the Waratah after completing an undefeated tour of the British colonies and France, expecting to continue this
record.

The world of rugby was shaken when a young, unknown, 19-year-old Albertus Viljoen van der Merwe, "Alvi" to his friends, scored the first ever try against the All-blacks on African soil.

Our charismatic founder captured the imagination of the world by scoring this try and was selected as the 221st player to play for the South African national rugby union team, 'the Springboks'.

This Springbok squad, with Alvi among the ranks, turned the tide of the 'invincibles' and toured the UK and Europe without defeat. Alvi's Farm, in Worcester, South Africa has continued this winning legacy, remaining family-owned since its inception, producing world-class wines that offer exceptional quality and value.

With the 221 range, we pay homage to the winning team of Alvi and Springbok. Grapes Carefully hand-picked, optimally ripe grapes are selected from mature Chenin blanc vines, harvested early in the morning to protect the quality and freshness of the
fruit that is reflected in this wine.

Vinification
After a demanding harvest with severe frosts and ongoing regional drought, our established grape varieties once again shone with healthy grapes with great fruit intensity. These hand-selected grapes were destemmed and gently pressed before the wild yeast fermentation could take place for a few weeks. 60% of the juice was fermented in French oak barrels with wild yeast fermentation and regular stirring of the lees, then matured for a further 12 months in the barrel – adding complexity to the wine; The balance of the blend was fermented in stainless steel tanks after the completion of the wild yeast fermentation to achieve the delicious crispness that is a hallmark of our wines.

The wine
Alvi's Drift 221 Chenin Blanc has a brilliant light straw colour. The nose reflects a delicious nectarine and peach fruit character with hints of quince, apple blossom and vanilla. This is an elegant wine, well rounded and creamy on the palate with a long, lingering finish of peach and a hint of honeycomb.

Analyses
RS-5.0 Alc-13.62 % TA-7.5 pH-2.81

Cultivar information
Chenin Blanc 100%