Rall Wines – 2023 Noa

Rall Wines – 2023 Noa.

The 2023 Noa is one of the purest and most compelling expressions of Chenin Blanc currently emerging from South Africa. Rather than pursuing richness or immediate generosity, Donovan Rall has crafted a wine that revolves around precision, restraint and an unwavering sense of place. Produced in extremely limited quantities, Noa is an exercise in minimalism, where every element serves to reveal the character of an exceptional old-vine vineyard.

There is a quiet confidence to the wine. It never seeks to overwhelm with exuberant fruit or lavish winemaking. Instead, it unfolds gradually, revealing remarkable detail and a level of mineral definition that places it among the country’s most distinctive white wines. It is a Chenin Blanc built for reflection as much as for pleasure, combining youthful tension with the promise of graceful evolution.

About the Winery

Founded by Donovan Rall, Rall Wines has become one of South Africa’s most respected boutique producers and a leading voice within the Swartland movement. Since releasing his first wines in 2008, Rall has built his reputation on working with exceptional old vineyards across the Western Cape, allowing site and vintage to dictate style rather than intervention in the cellar.

His philosophy is rooted in simplicity. Fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts, oak is used with restraint, and extraction is never pursued for its own sake. Instead, the emphasis lies on preserving freshness, texture and transparency. Every wine aims to express the individuality of its vineyard, with Chenin Blanc playing a central role in demonstrating the remarkable diversity of South Africa’s old-vine heritage.

About the Vineyard

Noa originates from a single parcel of old bush vines planted in 1969 on the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg, one of the Swartland’s most celebrated areas for Chenin Blanc. Although the wine is not officially presented as a single-vineyard bottling, it is effectively the expression of one remarkable site, cultivated specifically to capture the distinctive character of granite.

The vineyard covers just over two hectares and consistently produces fruit of exceptional concentration while maintaining remarkable natural acidity. The old, dry-farmed vines deliver low yields, resulting in grapes that possess both intensity and remarkable balance. Fermentation and maturation take place entirely in concrete egg, a vessel chosen to preserve purity and texture without introducing any influence from oak.

About the Wine

The 2023 vintage immediately impresses through its composure. Initially reserved, the bouquet slowly unfolds with aromas of crushed stone, flint and citrus zest before revealing layers of green apple, white peach, star fruit and subtle herbal nuances. A faint savoury note adds further complexity, hinting at the maturity of the vineyard rather than overt winemaking.

On the palate, Noa is remarkably linear and precise. Bright acidity forms the backbone, while a fine phenolic grip provides texture and length. The influence of the granite soils becomes increasingly evident as the wine develops, lending a chalky, almost tactile minerality that carries the fruit with exceptional focus. Rather than broadening across the palate, the wine remains tightly wound and energetic, finishing bone dry with citrus pith, saline freshness and a lingering mineral persistence.

Despite its elegance, there is considerable underlying concentration. The wine feels youthful and inward-looking, with a restrained personality that suggests its finest years still lie ahead. Its combination of acidity, structure and mineral depth promises outstanding development over the coming decade.

Conclusion

The 2023 Noa is a remarkable demonstration of what old-vine Chenin Blanc from the Swartland can achieve when vineyard and winemaking exist in complete harmony. It is not a wine driven by power or immediate charm, but by finesse, precision and a profound expression of terroir.

While already captivating today, Noa possesses the structure and balance to reward extended cellaring, gradually revealing additional layers of complexity without sacrificing the crystalline freshness that defines the wine.

We award this wine a 95-point DWA score—an exceptional Chenin Blanc that captures the essence of Swartland’s granite soils with uncommon clarity and further cements Donovan Rall’s reputation as one of South Africa’s finest contemporary winemakers.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. Rall Wines and their wines are available through our partner Wijnkooperij De Lange and can be purchased through their online shop.

Taste Date:     June 2026

Website:         Rall Wines