95+/100 Greg Sherwood, MW.
Brookdale Estate Sixteen Field Blend White 2022, WO Paarl, 13.5% Abv.
The Brookdale Sixteen Field Blend 2022 is, like the maiden 2021, comprised of 16 different varietals, interplanted as bush vines on the estate and essentially seeks to recapture the lost art of field blend winemaking as practiced all over Europe in the last century before the rise of mono-culture winemaking. After planting the tagged vines, the individual varietal identifiers were removed so that the vineyard would be a truly blind field blend without any specific varieties being favoured.
The plantings in this special vineyard consist of Chenin Blanc, Piquepoul, Verdejo, Clairette Blanche, Pinot Gris, Macbao (Viura), Grenache, Semillon, Roussanne, Vermentino, Marsanne, Petit Manseng, Albariño, Palomino, Chardonnay and Grillo. Yup, I think that makes 16!
A pale crystalline lemon yellow colour, the aromatics are wonderfully cool, mineral and restrained showing top notes of the estate’s classical dusty granitic minerality before hints of dried hay, green baking herbs, dried fennel, jasmine, white peach and melted honey on warm white toast. Like the 2021, the wine displays a silky fresh textural palate with a fine harmonious weight of peach stone, apple pastille, nectarine and yellow orchard fruits underpinned by a spicy, liquid minerality and phenolic herbal spice on the long, sleek, alluring finish. Once again, a brilliantly conceived creation that speaks of the estate’s vineyards, vision and terroir over any specific varietal or winemaking characteristic. If you missed the impressive sell-out 2021 maiden release, then this delicious white is right up there again. Drink now and over 10 to 12+ years.
A co-fermented interplanted field blend of Chenin Blanc, Piquepoul, Verdejo, Clairette Blanche, Pinot Gris, Macbao, Grenache, Semillon, Roussanne, Vermentino, Marsanne, Petit Manseng, Albariño, Palomino, Chardonnay, Grillo.
Below is the write-up for the maiden 2021 vintage release that is already sold out but gives you a taste of what this beautiful wine is about.
The Brookdale Estate, situated at the foot of the lofty Du Toitskloof Pass in Paarl, is a very impressive boutique winery owned by Englishman Tim Rudd and is planted with not only 25+ year old Chenin Blanc vines but also several other special Chenin Blanc blocks that are now over 35 years old and certified under the Old Vine Project as Heritage Vines. When Tim Rudd bought the farm, most of the existing vineyards were in very poor condition necessitating their removal to make way for broad new plantings of not only Syrah but also several massive white and red field blends.
The Sixteen Field Blend is comprised of 16 different varietals, interplanted as bush vines and essentially seeks to recapture the lost art of field blend winemaking as practiced all over Europe in the last century before the rise of mono-culture winemaking.
