Damascene – Franschhoek Sémillon 2023

Overview

The Damascene Franschhoek Sémillon 2023 is a wine of refined elegance, combining freshness, minerality, and depth. Sourced from historic bush vine vineyards along the Franschhoek River, it opens with lemon zest, apple blossom, and a subtle white chalk dust. On the palate, it is tight and focused, with a waxy texture and finely drawn fruit that gradually reveals surprising complexity. Contains sulfites.

History of the Wine

La Chataigne Vineyard, one of South Africa’s oldest Sémillon blocks, has bush vines dating back to 1942. The 2023 harvest benefited from a cold, wet winter that ensured healthy dormancy and even budburst. September rains reduced yields slightly but produced small, concentrated, and healthy clusters, hand-picked between 10 and 14 February 2024. Contains sulfites.

Vineyard Philosophy

Vineyards lie 22 km east of the Bottelary Chenin Blanc vineyard on alluvial soils, mainly decomposed Table Mountain sandstone. The oldest block is from 1932; the second, planted in 1962, has a rockier subsoil. About 15% of the vines naturally carry the rare Sémillon Gris mutation, preserved through careful pruning. Vineyards are farmed manually, respecting biodiversity, expressing purity and terroir. Contains sulfites.

Winemaking Approach

Whole clusters were sorted and gently pressed using a delicate Champagne cycle. Juice settled overnight, then fermented in 1,000 L Austrian oak foudres. Lees were retained to increase natural turbidity; no sulfur or enzymes were added during winemaking. Only native yeasts conducted fermentation. Malolactic conversion was blocked to preserve natural acidity. The wine matured sur lie for 11 months at 6–8 °C. Contains sulfites.

Tasting Notes

Colour: bright straw yellow.
Nose: lemon zest, apple blossom, white chalk, subtle beeswax.
Palate: Meyer lemon pith, nectarine, melon rind, hint of unripe tangerine; waxy texture adds gentle weight, with chalk and lime notes lingering; fruit is finely drawn and elegant.

Food Pairing

Pairs with shellfish, baked or grilled fish, grain salads, delicate risottos, and light white meats. Also ideal as a contemplative wine, highlighting elegance and mineral tension. Contains sulfites.

Technical Sheet

• Variety: 100% Sémillon

• Origin: Franschhoek

• Vineyards: La Chataigne

• Vine age: 1932–1962

• Harvest: 10–14 February 2024

• Vinification: 1,000 L Austrian oak foudres, sur lie, indigenous yeasts, malolactic blocked

• Maturation: 11 months sur lie at 6–8 °C

• Production: 2746 x 750 ml, 75 x 1500 ml

• Bottling date: 5 December 2024

• Alcohol: 12.8% vol

• pH: 3.14

• TA: 5.9 g/L

• RS: 2.2 g/L

• Serving temperature: 10–12 °C

• Contains sulfites

Damascene Winery

Damascene Winery

History

The Damascene winery was founded in 2017 through the collaboration between winemaker Jean Smit and wine entrepreneur David Curl, marking a new chapter in South African fine wine. After key experiences at leading Cape estates, Smit envisioned a project capable of expressing the depth and purity of the country’s most remote and fascinating terroirs. The name “Damascene” refers to a moment of revelation that inspired him to create a winery both artisanal and visionary. From the start, the ambition was clear: to craft wines that embody the true identity of South African vineyards, allowing nature itself to be the primary storyteller.

Vineyard Philosophy

Damascene’s viticultural philosophy is rooted in an ongoing search for the purest and most untouched terroirs across the Western Cape, with parcels located in Stellenbosch, Swartland, the Ceres Plateau and other areas defined by intense microclimates and ancient soils. The vineyards are farmed with minimal-intervention methods, relying on natural forces such as constant winds, organic soil management, self-produced mulch and meticulous manual care. The team collaborates closely with local farmers—guardians of long-standing traditions—emphasizing biodiversity, sustainability and authenticity. Every plot is cultivated to reflect its geological uniqueness and natural balance.

Cellar Approach

In the cellar, Damascene follows a method combining precision and restraint. Grapes are hand-harvested, cooled and transferred by gravity into concrete fermenters to preserve their freshness and integrity. Fermentations occur spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, contributing to aromatic depth and purity. Reds mature in large Austrian oak foudres, while whites rest in smaller neutral vessels, always with the lightest possible touch. Sulphites are used sparingly, added only before bottling to maintain a transparent expression of each vineyard’s character. Contains sulphites.

Values and Vision

Damascene represents a philosophy of winemaking that goes beyond technique, turning each bottle into a portrait of South Africa’s landscapes. The team travels thousands of kilometres to select high-altitude sites, isolated parcels and soils with rare geological identities. A portion of production is dedicated to experimentation, exploring new styles and interpretations of traditional varieties. The winery’s identity is built on a contemporary, curious and environmentally respectful vision, blending strong stylistic personality with absolute fidelity to the origin of the grapes. The result is a range of vibrant, precise and expressive wines that stand among the most compelling in the new South African wine scene.