Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2019

An early-morning harvest and a long, unhurried fermentation — nine months for the Roussanne component — give this Hemel-en-Aarde white its composed, deliberate character. Red apple, fresh pear and yellow flower on the nose, with chamomile drifting quietly in the background and a faint strawberry lift. Crisp, focused acidity anchors the palate, and the finish carries a stony mineralité that calls Alsace to mind more than the Cape. Among Alheit's more thoughtful, intellectually engaging wines from this vintage.