KOTTABOS SKIN FERMENTED CHENIN BLANC 2025

Winery notes (2025 Vintage)
"Kottabos is a Greek drinking game of the highest skill – where after many glasses of wine one elegantly flings the leftover lees from naturally unfiltered wine toward predetermined targets in the room with fellow drinking friends. The relaxed nature of the game by performing its skillful task while still seated at the communal dining table made for great fodder. Kottabos in the case of this wine is a small side project from Reenen Borman of Boschkloof. Here he experiments with other grapes not grown on the estate farm, but still within the Polkadraai Hills, and also presses the boundaries a bit more with more adventurous winemaking techniques.

Intriguing and beautifully layered, this skin-contact Chenin Blanc offers an aromatic profile that jumps out of the glass. The nose is inviting, showcasing notes of ripe, sun-drenched stone fruit layered with a touch of warm ginger and a distinct, energetic granite freshness. On the palate, the brief skin contact imparts a stunning, grippy texture and weight, balanced perfectly by its vibrant natural acidity. The finish is remarkably long, lingering, and exceptionally fresh.

Driven by an innovative, terroir-focused approach, this wine is crafted from two separate, carefully selected parcels of Chenin Blanc sourced from the granitic soils of the Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch. Upon reaching the cellar, the grapes undergo 100% whole-bunch fermentation and are left on their skins for a carefully monitored total of 5 days. This short maceration extracts beautiful aromatics and a delicate tannic grip without overwhelming the wine. Following fermentation, it is gently matured in older, neutral French oak barrels for 10 months to seamlessly integrate the fresh fruit with its complex, textured finish."

91/100 Christian Eedes, winemag.co.za, April 2026 (2025 Vintage)
"From Polkadraai Hills. Five days of skin contact before maturation lasting 10 months in older oak. Pretty aromatics of jasmine, herbs, pear and peach. The palate is sappy and fresh – more rounded and less grippy than expected. An easy style that prioritises charm over depth."