Lievland Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2017
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Winemaker Notes
This wine is representative of the versatility of old vine Chenin Blanc. It has a light straw color with a golden hue. Showing notes of white peach, citrus and pineapple on the nose, this wine has a rich and ripe mouthfeel coupled with vibrant acidity which contributes to the lingering zesty finish. The freshness and complexity of this wine will enable it to develop gracefully over the following years.
This Chenin can easily be enjoyed on its own, but can also complement dishes such as smoked pork, Cape Malay bobotie, or creamy seafood.
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Wine Enthusiast
Scents of honeycomb, beeswax and yellow melon abound on the nose of this wine, with some light sweet spice, baked apple and yellow flower accents. It's medium in weight, with ample acidity to lift the ripe orange, apple and pineapple core flavors and a slight prickle to the palate.
Other Vintages
2020-
Wine
Enthusiast
- Decanter
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
With an important wine renaissance in full swing, impressive red and white bargains abound in South Africa. The country has a particularly long and rich history with winemaking, especially considering its status as part of the “New World.” In the mid-17th century, the lusciously sweet dessert wines of Constantia were highly prized by the European aristocracy. Since then, the South African wine industry has experienced some setbacks due to the phylloxera infestation of the late 1800s and political difficulties throughout the following century.
Today, however, South Africa is increasingly responsible for high-demand, high-quality wines—a blessing to put the country back on the international wine map. Wine production is mainly situated around Cape Town, where the climate is generally warm to hot. But the Benguela Current from Antarctica provides brisk ocean breezes necessary for steady ripening of grapes. Similarly, cooler, high-elevation vineyard sites throughout South Africa offer similar, favorable growing conditions.
South Africa’s wine zones are divided into region, then smaller districts and finally wards, but the country’s wine styles are differentiated more by grape variety than by region. Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is the country’s “signature” grape, responsible for red-fruit-driven, spicy, earthy reds. When Pinotage is blended with other red varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Pinot Noir (all commonly vinified alone as well), it is often labeled as a “Cape Blend.” Chenin Blanc (locally known as “Steen”) dominates white wine production, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc following close behind.