Description
Holden Manz Proprietors' White Blend 2023 is a layered Western Cape white built from Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, and Viognier, with each variety contributing something distinct to the final wine. Rather than leaning too heavily on oak or richness, it balances texture, freshness, and mineral detail in a way that feels composed and highly drinkable. This is a white blend with breadth and polish, but also with enough energy to stay precise from start to finish.
On the palate, the wine shows a naturally fresh, creamy, and crisp profile, shaped by citrus and white blossom notes alongside minerality, a touch of salinity, and well-judged acidity. Twelve months on the lees adds roundness and complexity, giving the wine an appealing full mouthfeel and a long, smooth finish without making it feel heavy. It would pair especially well with roast chicken, grilled seafood, creamy pasta, or richer vegetable dishes where its texture and freshness can work together naturally.
Already expressive and well knit, this is a white blend that offers immediate enjoyment while also having the structure to evolve nicely over the next few years.
On the palate, the wine shows a naturally fresh, creamy, and crisp profile, shaped by citrus and white blossom notes alongside minerality, a touch of salinity, and well-judged acidity. Twelve months on the lees adds roundness and complexity, giving the wine an appealing full mouthfeel and a long, smooth finish without making it feel heavy. It would pair especially well with roast chicken, grilled seafood, creamy pasta, or richer vegetable dishes where its texture and freshness can work together naturally.
Already expressive and well knit, this is a white blend that offers immediate enjoyment while also having the structure to evolve nicely over the next few years.
The berries were hand selected in the cool of the early morning, and the individual components were vinified separately before blending toward the end of 2023. Indigenous yeasts were used, with fermentation taking place in a mix of 225L and 500L French oak barrels as well as stainless steel tanks. Approximately 30% of the wine was barrel matured, while 12 months of lees contact added creaminess, texture, and further complexity. The fruit was sourced from multiple locations, including Franschhoek, Banhoek, Wellington, and Simonsberg-Paarl, allowing the final blend to combine freshness, depth, and regional nuance.
Winemaker: Thierry Haberer
Winemaker: Thierry Haberer
Named after owners Gerard Holden and Migo Mans, this Franschhoek property was originally developed into a wine farm in 1999. Located in the top, southern-most corner of the Franschhoek Valley, in the embrace of its spectacular mountains, the 22 hectares Holden Manz Wine Estate is situated between the Franschhoek River and Stony Brook at 300 meters above sea level.
Today it is a lifestyle destination, boasting five-star guest house and spa, restaurant, picnics by the Franschhoek river, with an art collection housed in the town. An exclusive grower of red grapes, the Estate only cultivates its top 16 hectares under vineyards, notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot resulting in the production of ultra-premium wines made for the discerning wine connoisseur.
Today it is a lifestyle destination, boasting five-star guest house and spa, restaurant, picnics by the Franschhoek river, with an art collection housed in the town. An exclusive grower of red grapes, the Estate only cultivates its top 16 hectares under vineyards, notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot resulting in the production of ultra-premium wines made for the discerning wine connoisseur.
