Since the maiden vintage of the Alheit’s Cartology white blend in 2011, the Alheit’s philosophy of old vines and special pockets of Cape terroir has seen them produce ever more critically acclaimed wines from all around the Cape. With the 2022 vintage of the Hereafter Here 100% Chenin Blanc from notable parcels in the Swartland, Upper Blaauwklippen, Polkadraai, and Paardeberg, and the Cartology 92% Chenin Blanc, 8% Sémillon blend from old vine Chenin vineyards from the Skurfberg, Malmesbury, Perdeberg, Bottelary, Upper Blaauwklippen, False Bay, Tygerberg, and the third oldest Sémillon block in South Africa, La Colline in Franschhoek, planted in 1936 (two older blocks being planted 1902 at Eikehof and 1905 at Landau du Val).

These two wines offer up some of the most critically acclaimed South African white wines from arguably one of the most celebrated South African winemakers after Eben Sadie (though Chris and Suzanne Alheit only trail him by a few years age wise). They have since made their home on the farm, Hemelrand (Heaven’s Edge) on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge and have mentored some of SA’s top winemaking talent in the form of Franco Lourens, previously assistant winemaker and now full-time winemaker and owner of Lourens Family Wines.

While collectors and connoisseurs have long since chased allocations of Chris’s top single site Chenin Blanc wines like Magnetic North and Huilkrans, the heightened quality, focus and precision on the Cartology vineyard blend specifically has been notable in recent years. Both the Cartology and Hereafter Here cuvees are now almost as tightly allocated as the single vineyard cuvees, so drinkers and collectors should definitely not overlook these wines when buying benchmark Chenin Blanc whites from South Africa.

Alheit Vineyards Hereafter Here Chenin Blanc 2022, WO Western Cape, 13% Abv.

Made from a mixture of young and older vines aged between 5 and 40 years old, after 18 months of elevage with 66% aged on its fine lees, the complex aromatics reveal a rich leesy, savoury yellow fruited nose with pithy white citrus, peach stone, bitter almonds, dried herbs, orange blossom and hints of lemon oil. Rich but not too overtly “fruity”, the palate is plush, harmonious and textural with hints of honeydew melon, lemon pastille, white peach and savoury leesy biscuit hints. Really quite serious, and seriously delicious! Drink now and over the next 8 to 10 years.

(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Alheit Vineyards Cartology 2022, WO Western Cape, 13% Abv.

This flagship blend from Chris Alheit is made from 92% Chenin Blanc and 8% Semillon grapes sourced from eight disparate old vine vineyards of between 40 and 60 years old. The youthful aromatics display a melange of granitic minerality over notes of peach, tangerine, orange oil and wet hay nuances. The 2022 is beautifully cool, harmonious and overtly mineral-led with dusty dried herbs, white peach, green pear and yellow stone fruits. The acids are gentle, soft spoken but deliciously tangy and the finish creamy, leesy and delightfully mouth-coating with and impressively persistent length. Yet another superb Cartology release from Chris ‘Butch’ Alheit. Drink now and over the next 10 to 12+ years.

(Wine Safari Score: 95+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

The Cartology 2022 is priced at circa £34.99 and the Hereafter Here 2022 at £26.99 inc. Both wines are available from specialist South African merchant Museum Wines.