Full notes not taken. This wine was complex and almost rustic. Not sure the last time I said that about a white wine. Strong quince and apple notes with some citrus, moderately intense acidity with some trailing tannins and mild oak. Improved with air. I was certain my wife would not like it and, as is true with all certainty in relationships, I was wrong.
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Not a good example of Chenin Blanc, and not a very good wine for that matter. Incredibly dull and boring. Notes of butter and subtle fruit. Decent acidity.
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Blind tasted. Green apple, lemon zest, white flowers, apple blossom, vanilla, limestone, used oak. I guessed Sonoma Chard, SA Chenin is a tough one blind.
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“Mixed Bag of South African Wines I”-Tasting, Wine 3 (non-blind), in November 2013. The wine was medium yellow-golden in colour and offered floral notes, apple, some citrus, yeast, some smoke and some straw on the nose. On the palate the wine showed apple, pear, some quince, hints of vanilla and smoke as well as a mild spiciness, paired with medium-plus lively acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and very good length. A very good, medium- to full-bodied, balanced, medium-complex Chenin Blanc. 88+
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If you've never had a traditional South African chenin blanc, you're really missing out. This is one of the better examples out there, made from unirrigated old-vine chenin blanc grown near Helderberg, closer to the coast than most Stellenbosch wineries and significantly cooler). It's been partially fermented in barrel and left on the lees for some time to boot, so it's got a whole lot going on in there, especially compared to other wines in this price range.
To me, this wine smells like lemon zest, marzipan, and honey; it's a taut wine with excellent balance between minerality, acidity, and just a little tiny bit of residual sugar to mellow it out a touch, all served up with a wonderfully understated bit of spicy, vanilla oak to tie it all together. Really, really good stuff if you like this style of wine - think Savennières, or at least in that general stylistic ballpark.
[Points only assigned to counterbalance the two previous reviews, with strike me as grossly unfair.]
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2/25/2017 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This reminds me a a Chablis. Steely and fruit driven with a touch of floral character and a bright finish. Age has done it well.
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8/23/2014 - Pfleonard Likes this wine: 89 Points
White and yellow fruit, beeswax and stone. Earthy white with lots going on.
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4/6/2014 - Onthelees wrote: 85 Points
Full notes not taken. This wine was complex and almost rustic. Not sure the last time I said that about a white wine. Strong quince and apple notes with some citrus, moderately intense acidity with some trailing tannins and mild oak. Improved with air. I was certain my wife would not like it and, as is true with all certainty in relationships, I was wrong.
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3/12/2014 - Tairroirist wrote: 85 Points
candied nose, gamey, slight cat pee, spicy, lingering acidity, petro, pineapple/tropical fruit
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1/25/2014 - matthewjhale Does not like this wine: 68 Points
Not a good example of Chenin Blanc, and not a very good wine for that matter. Incredibly dull and boring. Notes of butter and subtle fruit. Decent acidity.
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1/20/2014 - GTFreek wrote:
Blind tasted. Green apple, lemon zest, white flowers, apple blossom, vanilla, limestone, used oak. I guessed Sonoma Chard, SA Chenin is a tough one blind.
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11/22/2013 - PSPatrick wrote: 88 Points
“Mixed Bag of South African Wines I”-Tasting, Wine 3 (non-blind), in November 2013. The wine was medium yellow-golden in colour and offered floral notes, apple, some citrus, yeast, some smoke and some straw on the nose. On the palate the wine showed apple, pear, some quince, hints of vanilla and smoke as well as a mild spiciness, paired with medium-plus lively acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and very good length. A very good, medium- to full-bodied, balanced, medium-complex Chenin Blanc. 88+
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11/9/2013 - fullpour Likes this wine: 90 Points
If you've never had a traditional South African chenin blanc, you're really missing out. This is one of the better examples out there, made from unirrigated old-vine chenin blanc grown near Helderberg, closer to the coast than most Stellenbosch wineries and significantly cooler). It's been partially fermented in barrel and left on the lees for some time to boot, so it's got a whole lot going on in there, especially compared to other wines in this price range.
To me, this wine smells like lemon zest, marzipan, and honey; it's a taut wine with excellent balance between minerality, acidity, and just a little tiny bit of residual sugar to mellow it out a touch, all served up with a wonderfully understated bit of spicy, vanilla oak to tie it all together. Really, really good stuff if you like this style of wine - think Savennières, or at least in that general stylistic ballpark.
[Points only assigned to counterbalance the two previous reviews, with strike me as grossly unfair.]
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5/25/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 84 Points
4th Saturday Group. Notes of rainwater and not giving much else. Nailed this as Chenin Blanc.
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5/25/2013 - AllRed wrote: 85 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Rick's & Cris'): Notes of cotton and wax with an odd, dirty quality. Medium-bodied, with flavors of melon and white fruit with an easy, simple finish.
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