Miles Mossop 2020 release: Chapter's range
The Story behind the Chapters Range: exclusive to Dry Dock in Johannesburg
The Chapters range was first launched in 2019 with the 2018 vintage. Initially consisting of three wines, then expanding to four wines from the 2019 vintage and now expanded again to five wines for the 2020 vintage.
The new addition to the range, Chapter Five, is a barrel fermented Chardonnay produced from grapes sourced in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
I have always produced wines which are very personal to me. Wines I like to enjoy with friends and family around meals or just relaxing. In my travels around the winelands sourcing grapes for my wines I often come across interesting parcels of vineyards which speak to unique sites with the potential to produce top quality wines.
This range of limited-release wines tells our story as it unfolds.
This is where I can express these sites and produce small batches of exceptional wines from exceptional vineyard sites. These are single parcels which are wine styles and varieties which I love to drink, lovingly handcrafted in my pursuit of outstanding South African wines.
Just a reminder as what the different Chapters are:
Chapter One – Swartland Cinsault
Only 2000 bottles produced. A bottling of a single vineyard site of Cinsault grown on decomposed granite soils in the Swartland. Naturally fermented with 60% whole bunches and matured in a concrete tank for 9 months, this wine expresses the purity of Cinsault fruit with fine grained tannins on the finish. Made in a fresh fruit driven style, only 12.5% alcohol content.
Chapter Two – Swartland Chenin blanc
Only 1358 bottles produced. This is a single vineyard site of Chenin blanc in the Paardeberg mountains in the Swartland. A 48 year old block of unirrigated bush-vines growing on decomposed granite soils. Naturally fermented and matured in older French Oak barrels for 9 months.
Chapter Three – Stellenbosch Chenin blanc
Only 1058 bottles produced. This is a single vineyard site of Chenin blanc in Stellenbosch. A 34 year old bush-vine block growing on Malmesbury shale soils. Naturally fermented and matured in older French oak barrels for 9 months.
Chapter Four – Stellenbosch Sauvignon blanc
Only 741 bottles produced. This is a single vineyard site of Sauvignon blanc in Stellenbosch. A 32 year old bush-vine block growing in Malmesbury shale soils. Naturally fermented and matured in older French oak barrels for 9 months. To be noted is that I have not been able to source grapes from this vineyard in 2021 and this might very well be the only vintage produced of this wine.
Chapter Five – Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Chardonnay
Only 830 bottles produced. This is a 100% Chardonnay from a single 17-year-old trellised vineyard on the Southern facing slopes of the Babylonstoren mountains in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in the Walker Bay Region of South Africa, growing on decomposed sandstone soils. Naturally fermented and matured in 228L French Oak barrels, 33% being new, for 9 months.
This range of limited-release wines tells our story as it unfolds. Each Chapter is unique. Lovingly handcrafted by Miles in his pursuit of outstanding South African wines.