City on a Hill

André Bruyns, assistant winemaker to David and Nadia Sadie, has just stared making wine under his own label City on a Hill in 2015. André wants his wines to be very specific to their site and soil type. His white grapes come from 35 year old dryland vineyards in the Paardeberg Mountain, planted mainly with Chenin Blanc. Farming is sustainable with some organic and biodynamic practices used. The granitic soils enhance the stony/mineral attributes of the grapes giving rise to a focused and linear style. The wines are fermented naturally in old oak barrels to enhance the sense of place, and are bottled unfiltered. The White Blend is a blend of 92% Chenin Blanc with 8% Viognier and spends 10 months on lees. He also makes a 100% Chenin Blanc, a selection of the best barrels reflecting the restraint and linearity of the Paardeberg. And just one barrel of Muscat d’Alexandrie from a 30 year old parcel, whole-bunch macerated for 5 days before pressing. This is an ambitious project and we can't wait to see how it develops.