Winemaker Notes
The Chenin Blanc offers a nose of quince, white pear, andlemon, complemented by subtle honeysuckle notes. On the palate, this wine is layered with notes of lemon, quince, pear, and apple pith, which is perfectly balanced with a lively acidity. The finish is textured, leaving a lasting impression on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Chenin Blanc comes from two blocks planted in 1974 and 1976, pressed with whole bunches with no settling of the juice and racked straight after. It fermented in foudres and clay amphorae. This reminds me of a white Bordeaux on the nose, with hints of chai filtering through the citrus fruit. The palate is very well balanced with tangy orange pith, apricot and hints of vanilla. Seductively textured, suggestions of caramelized pear develop toward the long finish. This is a superb follow-up to the 2022.
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Wine Spectator
This is a bit reductive at first, leading with subtle smoke and toast notes but then opening nicely in the glass to reveal flavors of poached apricot and persimmon, ground ginger and orange curd set on the silky texture and driven by racy acidity. Salty finish. Drink now through 2030. 815 cases made, 50 cases imported.
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.