Illimis
Illimis
Named as one of South Africa’s top Chenin Blanc producers in Decanter July 2019, and best in Elgin.
Namibian born Lucinda Heyns first studied viticulture in South Africa before heading across to the States to gain valuable experience with the likes of Raj Parr, Sashi Moorman and at Screaming Eagle. Returning to the Cape, she worked as a viticulturist at Jordan estate and Mulderbosch, founding Illimis Wines in 2015. Illimis is the Latin for clarity, which underpins her philosophy of winemaking, minimal intervention and integrity of fruit from the vineyard all the way into the bottle. Being a viticulturist at heart, she believes that everything starts with the vines. Every vintage is unique, and her hope is that every wine is a tribute to the endless pursuit of refining the potential of each site the Illimis wines are made from. It’s a philosophy very close to our hearts and we are so excited to see how her wines progress. The 2016 Chenin Blanc was heralded one of the best in Decanter Summer 2019, and that’s just her second vintage!
Click on wines below for further details and overview of tasting notes.
Elgin, South Africa
“Pear, white peach and yellow apple on the nose. Good fruit definition, coated acidity and a gently savoury finish. A delicate, understated wine “
From the cool climate of Elgin, 300m above sea level on bokkeveld shale soils. We say soil - more just vines growing out of huge chunks of rock!
We’ve had this wine for several vintages now and it just gets better and better. Consistently now scoring 5* in the wine reviews and continuously asked for by some of the top restaurants we work with. This wine won’t be around for long.
Illimis is brought to us by surfer winemaker/viticulurist Lucinda Heyns, Illimis wines offer a “look through the window” in to the vineyard. Illimis - meaning clarity in Latin perfectly portrays this. Part of the young wave of winemakers, like Xander, able to buy parcels of fruit across the Western Cape, Lucinda works with a site in Elgin for her Chenin, and one farmer in Darling for her Cinsault. Still in its early days, Lucinda’s day job sees her working as a viticulturist at the Institute of Grape and Wine Sciences.
Swartland, South Africa
“A very attractive nose showing red fruit, roses, a subtle herbal note and white pepper. Light bodied and fresh with soft tannins – entirely charming.” Winemag.co.za
From a bushvine vineyard planted in 1972 in Darling and fermented partly with carbonic maceration, this is a stunning example of what Cinsault is capable of. Think of it as your new world answer to Beaujolais.
Illimis is brought to us by surfer winemaker/viticulurist Lucinda Heyns, Illimis wines offer a “look through the window” in to the vineyard. Illimis - meaning clarity in Latin perfectly portrays this. Part of the young wave of winemakers, like Xander, able to buy parcels of fruit across the Western Cape, Lucinda works with a site in Elgin for her Chenin, and one farmer in Darling for her Cinsault. Still in its early days, Lucinda’s day job sees her working as a viticulturist at the Institute of Grape and Wine Sciences.