Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Mev. Kirsten displays fresh fruit aromas that migrate into riper apricot and slightly tropical notes; however, the bulk of the wine’s aromatics lean on the fresh and bright aspects of the fruit. The aromas are very soft-spoken, and the wine is still just settling into the bottle. The tannins are incredibly refined, and the wine’s weight seems suspended; there is every suggestion that it will become a very classical vintage for this vineyard. Tasted over four days and the slow development and move of the aromas suggest that this wine is genuinely in need of a dark cellar for a long time.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Old Vine Series Mev Kirsten shows surprising depth with bright citrus and a pristine focus that is initially linear but gives way to a lively and fresh expression that overflows from the glass. Medium-bodied, the wine continues to gain complexity across the mid-palate and uncoils in the mouth like a champion. The longer the wine sits on the palate, it reveals its subtleties and secrets before growing in amplitude and precision over the lively and energetic finish. Bravo! Best After 2023
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Wine Enthusiast
Coming from old vines planted between 1905 and 1920, this Chenin is layered and structured. There is a rich bouquet of white flowers, dried fruit and spices on the nose. The textured palate shows depth, offering lime, ginger, apricot and chamomile flavors that extend the delightful finish.
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.