{"product_id":"damascene-franschhoek-semillon-2024","title":"Damascene Franschhoek Sémillon 2024","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element  vc_custom_1634702925563\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element  vc_custom_1664886268106\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element  vc_custom_1629902587865\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eLa Chataigne Vineyard\u003c\/em\u003e, on the banks of the Franschhoek river, is one of South Africa’s oldest Sémillon blocks, consisting of bush vines planted as early as 1942.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"vc_column-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wpb_wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"ultimate-heading-20736ae773d33da3f\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-20736ae773d33da3f uvc-9069\" data-hspacer=\"line_only\" data-halign=\"left\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page\" title=\"Page 1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page\" title=\"Page 1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTES ON THE FRANSCHHOEK 2024 VINTAGE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2024 season in Franschhoek was shaped by contrast. A cold, wet winter provided excellent dormancy and even budburst, while September rains of over 180 mm caused widespread infrastructure damage but were largely beneficial for our well-drained Sémillon vineyards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEarly summer was dry and hot, creating conditions that ripen Sémillon well. However, strong winds and the September downpours reduced fruit set, resulting in lower yields. Ultimately, grape clusters were small but healthy, translating into a wine of focus and purity. Picking took place between 10 and 14 February 2024.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVINEYARD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur Sémillon vineyards lie 22 km due east of our Bottelary Chenin Blanc vineyard, on the edges of the Franschhoek Valley. These ancient bush vine vineyards are rooted in alluvial soils—predominantly decomposed Table Mountain sandstone—with the oldest block planted in 1932. The second block, planted in 1962 against the Franschhoek Mountain foothills, has a rockier subsoil. Roughly 15 percent of the vines have naturally morphed into the rare Sémillon Gris mutation, which we preserve with careful pruning.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINEMAKING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the cellar, whole clusters were sorted and pressed using a delicate champagne cycle. The juice settled overnight before transfer to 1000L Austrian oak foudres for fermentation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs with our Chenin Blancs, all the lees that remained in suspension (a mixture of both heavy and light lees) were retained to increase turbidity naturally. No sulphur or enzymes were added during the winemaking process, and only native yeasts carried the fermentation. Most batches only saw sulphur for the first time shortly before bottling in early December.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMalolactic conversion was deliberately prevented to preserve the wine’s remarkable natural acidity. The wine then matured sur lie for 11 months in 1000L Austrian oak vats at 6–8 °C.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wine of quiet confidence, the 2024 Sémillon opens with lemon zest, apple blossom, and a dusting of white chalk, unfolding to a subtle beeswax richness. There’s a cool, stony undertone, giving the nose its crystalline edge.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn the palate, the wine is tight and focused, carrying flavours of Meyer lemon pith, nectarine, melon rind, and a hint of unripe tangerine. A waxy texture runs through the core, providing gentle weight without heaviness. Over time, white chalk dust and lime notes appear, while the fruit remains finely drawn rather than exuberant. A textured, restrained wine, with surprising depth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMATURATION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest enjoyed within three to five years, but with careful cellaring will continue to evolve for more than a decade. With extended bottle age, expect tertiary flavours to intensify, showing the true character of old-vine Sémillon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTECHNICAL ANALYSIS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\" style=\"height: 110.110289px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 34.816177px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 34.816177px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVarietals\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 34.816177px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Sémillon\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e12.8 %\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResidual Sugar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e2.2 g\/L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e3.14\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eTotal Acidity\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 18.823528px;\"\u003e5.9 g\/L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wine To Share","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":60790062252318,"sku":"DAM-FRH-SEM-2024","price":71.25,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/9919\/3658\/files\/Screenshot2026-11-02at01.17.36.png?v=1793553470","url":"https:\/\/winetoshare.com\/products\/damascene-franschhoek-semillon-2024","provider":"Wine To Share ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}