Testalonga Baby Bandito Stay Brave 2022 is made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes, from bush-vines (un-trellised vines) planted in 1981 in Swartland that are farmed organically. This particular 1.5ha block had been abandoned when we “discovered” it and we approached the farmer, Rick Mcgrindle, to ask if we could try revive it. The vineyard gives a distinct salty character to the wine which we love and we’re glad we found this block. Grapes are hand harvested and 100% destemmed into open 1,500-litre fermenters where they were fermented on the skins for 8 days before being pressed off into a 3,300-litre old oak Foudre and 1,500-litre barrel. Ambient (the juice/ wine is not cooled) and 100% natural/wild fermentation (no added yeast strains). After 4 months the wine was blended and aged in a 10,000-litre fibreglass tank. It was allowed to undergo 100% malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and help build texture in the wine. No additives apart from a small amount of SO2 shortly before bottling. A clarifying filtration was done, not fined. Bottled at 12%. (Bottle size 750ml)

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