2022 White

Donovan’s flagship wine, the Rall White 2022, is composed of 68% Chenin, 28% Verdelho, and 4% Viognier, enhancing its high acidity and reflecting the ongoing pursuit of precise, ageworthy whites. In the early days, it was all about texture, inspired by Eben Sadie’s Palladius, but since 2017, Donovan has pared back the blend to great acclaim. The Chenin comes from three different vineyards: two old bushvine vineyards on the Paardeberg and one trellised vineyard on schist soil in Riebeeksrivier. The Verdelho comes from a vineyard with red clay-rich soil in Helderberg, while the Viognier is sourced from granite-rich soil in Voor-Paardeberg.

Fermentation is natural, with each component vinified separately, all in wood (foudres, 500L puncheons) except for one concrete egg. No new oak is used. The 2022 vintage was largely picked early and comes in at 12.5% alcohol. With notes of citrus, elderflower, flint, and stones, along with fine earth, essential oils, and salted nuts, there is a lot going on here. Donovan considers it one of the best wines he has ever made.