Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
The 2014 Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Block W has a complex bouquet, more minerally than the Block S2, with scents of dried honey, jasmine, a touch of frangipane and pressed flowers that are nicely defined. The palate is crisp on the entry with freshly squeezed lime on the entry, racy acidity, a gently build in the mouth towards what is quite a spicy and long finish. What is shares with the Block S2 is touch of lemongrass on the aftertaste. Very fine indeed.
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Vinous
(from 33-year-old southeast-facing vines with heavy clay subsoil): Shows more lift on the nose than the A Block, with lemon and peach aromas complemented by a hint of resiny oak. Lovely concentration and fresh acidity to the ripe apple and pear flavors. On the sweet side, but shows considerably more energy and lift than the A Block. Finishes fine-grained and long, with some exotic oak notes and lovely lingering sweetness. This iconic estate, best known for its brisk, intense white wines, was purchased by Charles Banks and his Terroir Capital wine-investing group in 2010 and has been taken to a higher level by viticulturalist Adam Mason and winemaker Mick Craven.
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.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.