The Wine Advocate | RP 93
Published: Dec 29, 2023
Drink: 2024-2037

Mostly Chenin Blanc with 8% Sémillon, the 2022 Cartology Bush Vines instantly impresses with fantastic balance and weight, offering succulent aromas of lemon, almonds and dusty citrus blossoms. Medium-bodied and with 13% alcohol, the palate is fresh, clean and mineral driven with a subtly spiced chassis before displaying a food-friendly finish that will benefit from another year in the bottle. Just over 27,000 bottles were produced after resting in a mix of cement eggs, old foudre and old barrels.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17+
Published: Oct 17, 2023
Drink: 2024-2032

92% Chenin Blanc, 8% Sémillon. A tricky year in terms of acidity. Chris Alheit says they pick parcel by parcel, some early and some later, and then manage acidity by blending.
A mesmerising unfurling of fragrance from the moment you put the glass to your nose: wild-meadow grass and flowers, hay and summer honey, grainy pears. The acidity is ripe and broad and spreads across the mouth from side to side rather than beginning to end. Delicate bitterness forms the spine; apple pips, citrus peel, apricot stone. Very savoury finish. Fruit is muted. Texture is what’s left on the length. Rumpled linen. 
Alcohol: 13%

Alheitvineyards.co.za

Cartology is a vinous exploration of Cape heritage. It's intended to be a picture of the Cape seen through the lens of her old vineyards in a given vintage. The cuvee is composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines, of heritage grapes, namely Chenin Blanc and Semillon. These grapes have been planted in the Cape for centuries.
Cartology has become our staple offering. It serves as a poster child for our project, and also seems to have become a flag bearer for Cape heritage wine in general.

Vineyards:
As a rule, the Cartology parcels are dry farmed bushvines, with a minimum age of 30 years, although most are between 40 and 50 years old. Average yields for these parcels is around 3 tons/Ha or around 20hl/Ha.
Cartology is 90% Chenin blanc and 10% Semillon. The Chenin comes from our parcels in the Skurfberg, Piekenierskloof, Perdeberg, Bottelary, False Bay and Tygerberg. The Semillon comes from the old La Colline block in Franschhoek.

Tasting Notes:
Weight and power are not the same thing. Here's a wine with a moderate palate weight that has both intensity and power. The nose is wonderful: kumquat citrus, sweet oatmeal and honey, maybe elderflower. The palate is fine and bright, reminiscent of salty/sweet candied lemon, great length.

Technical Details:
Varieties: 90% Chenin Blanc, 10% Semillon

The Name: Cartology means the study of maps or charts. It could not be more perfect name for this wine. Not only because of our endeavours to search for and find these special old vineyards, but also because the wine itself can be seen as a vinous map or tapestry of the Cape.