Winemaker Notes
Vibrant unoaked Chenin Blanc from South Africa's rugged Swartland region, this is a lively and fresh white wine distinguished by clean flavors of ripe melon and stone fruit. Made completely in stainless steel, a brief period of lees aging adds texture and a degree of finesse to this crowd-pleasing wine. A wine filled with vibrancy, luminosity and clean minerality. Flavors of ripe summer melon, pear, white peach, and lemon peel on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Generous, with fine, balancing acidity that enlivens its flavors, this excellent introduction to the high-value category of South African Chenin is well suited to standalone sipping or pairing with lightly spicy fish or poultry dishes. Subtle floral scents along with a hint of wild honey are appealing, followed by flavors of ripe peach and mildly sweet lemon curd.
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James Suckling
Chopped apple, peach and a hint of pineapple on the nose, followed by a more salty, mineral palate. It’s medium-bodied, saline and refreshing.
Born in Cape Town and named for a wandering dog who led two young travelers backpacking across South Africa's Wild Coast, Lubanzi is a true start-up, sustainable, and socially-conscious wine co. that focuses on crafting fairly produced wines that punch above their weight and create a difference in the lives of the laborers who work on South Africa's wine farms. Sourcing primarily from Fair for Life Fair Trade & Sustainably farming certified vineyards, giving back to a non-profit that works to improve life for those working on SA’s wine farms & becoming South Africa’s first certified B Corporation winery are all symbols of Lubanzi’s commitment to being a leader in social & environmental responsibility.
Lubanzi is the story of partnerships, of travels, of community, and of the path less traveled. They believe in making wines for adventurers and the rest of the pack, from where the mountain meets the ocean, helping you make a home in new places, and an adventure out of the ones we know by heart.
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.
Literally meaning "the black land," Swartland takes its name from the endangered, indigenous "renosterbos" (translating to rhino bush), which used to be plentiful enough to turn the entire landscape a dark color certain during times of year. The district, attracting some of the most adventurous and least interventionist winemakers, excels in robust and full-bodied reds as well as quality fortified wines.