Brightly fruity, nice round acid, and I think a touch of residual sugar to smooth things out. Great texture that feels almost oily but has enough acidity such that it doesn't seem weighty. Goes nicely with spicy food.
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Pale golden, no oak, thin tears, heavy on tropical fruit, mango, white nectar, a bit reminiscent of banana. On palate, light to medium body, fruit forward, lemon, orange peel, medium finish, very enjoyable wine and CRAZY value.
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Sat, 01/05/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% free-run Steen [Chenin Blanc in S. AFR] from dry-land, bush vines in Agter-Paarl; 100% unoaked, & left on the gross lees for 3 mos prior to bottling; 13.5% ABV, 4.69 g/L R.S., 6.25 g/L T.A., & 3.42 pH.
N: Fragrant lemons with notes of flowers atop minerals
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) counterbalanced by a TANGY acidity which keeps things in line as it morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with PERHAPS an OCCASIONAL *glimpse* of a very, VERY slight bitterness. NICELY done for now & into (if not through) '21. My VG+/EXC-, the higher for the QPR of this vendor's $7.95, which puts it in the top 10% of wine-searcher's postings. 89 pts The Tasting Panel
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Good QPR. Pale yellow wine with notes of lemon and tropical fruit accompanied by mineralogy on the nose. More pronounced fruit on the palate with hint of residual sugar and nice acidity. Short finish.
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Sat, 06/30/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% free-run Steen [Chenin Blanc in S. AFR] from dry-land, bush vines in Agter-Paarl; 100% unoaked, & left on the gross lees for 3 mos prior to bottling; 13.5% ABV, 4.69 g/L R.S., 6.25 g/L T.A., & 3.42 pH.
N: Minerals, poss earth, with lemons coming on
P: LM body; VERY RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt beautifully off-set by an acidity which basically defines the wine into the LONG, tangy/swt (65:35) finish with a very, VERY slight bitterness that is at least partially off-set by glimpses of honey. Today's bottle would be best with food "right" now. drink into & through '20. My VG+, more with time &/or a QPR focus? [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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Sat, 06/02/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% free-run Steen [Chenin Blanc in S. AFR] from dry-land, bush vines in Agter-Paarl; 100% unoaked, & left on the gross lees for 3 mos prior to bottling; 13.5% ABV, 4.69 g/L R.S., 6.25 g/L T.A., & 3.42 pH.
N: Earth, minerals, with undertones of apples?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a tangy acidity which pretty much carries matters through the LONG, tangy/swt (60/40) finish with the swtness comping on ULT. For now & through '20, poss longer. My VG+/EXC-, certainly the higher IF one considers the QPR of this vendor's $7.95, which tops wine-searcher.
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P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by acidity which morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with ult hints of honey. For now & doubtlessly through '20. My VG+, likely more. [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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Sat, 3/24/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): *Apparently so new tasting notes haven't yet been posted, this bottling COMMONLY approaches threshold with its R.S. but with VERY low pH. On this particular bottle/day, however, I picked up *no* sensation of R.S.
N: Lemons, minerals
P: LM, poss L, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by crisp acidity which transitions into a LONG, slightly spicy, very, VERY slightly tart finish with occasional notes of honey. Still coming together, I suspect, yet another CONSISTENT effort from this excellent producer. Should improve into summer '18, then drink into if not through '21. My VG/VG+. [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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8/7/2020 - jmcmchi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Maybe a 90. Can't ask for more varietal correctness, nicely balanced acidity, screw cap works well to preserve freshness
Excellent QPR
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3/28/2020 - mrkurtz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Brightly fruity, nice round acid, and I think a touch of residual sugar to smooth things out. Great texture that feels almost oily but has enough acidity such that it doesn't seem weighty. Goes nicely with spicy food.
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9/6/2019 - VinoMomNola Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pale golden, no oak, thin tears, heavy on tropical fruit, mango, white nectar, a bit reminiscent of banana. On palate, light to medium body, fruit forward, lemon, orange peel, medium finish, very enjoyable wine and CRAZY value.
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6/17/2019 - gbanks wrote:
This is always such an insane value. Steely, floral, medium bodied, yum.
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1/5/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 01/05/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% free-run Steen [Chenin Blanc in S. AFR] from dry-land, bush vines in Agter-Paarl; 100% unoaked, & left on the gross lees for 3 mos prior to bottling; 13.5% ABV, 4.69 g/L R.S., 6.25 g/L T.A., & 3.42 pH.
N: Fragrant lemons with notes of flowers atop minerals
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) counterbalanced by a TANGY acidity which keeps things in line as it morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with PERHAPS an OCCASIONAL *glimpse* of a very, VERY slight bitterness. NICELY done for now & into (if not through) '21. My VG+/EXC-, the higher for the QPR of this vendor's $7.95, which puts it in the top 10% of wine-searcher's postings. 89 pts The Tasting Panel
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11/23/2018 - PARAG0NN Likes this wine: 95 Points
definitely getting this again, maybe even a go-to white. Easy drinking but decent abv
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9/16/2018 - jmcmchi Likes this wine: 88 Points
Showing great consistency with 2016 vintage... lively fruit, good acidity, excellent QPR
One of the hidden gems; CB is not fashionable, the dryer style is even less so.....looking forward to the '18
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8/19/2018 - knorthrip Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good QPR. Pale yellow wine with notes of lemon and tropical fruit accompanied by mineralogy on the nose. More pronounced fruit on the palate with hint of residual sugar and nice acidity. Short finish.
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6/30/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 06/30/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% free-run Steen [Chenin Blanc in S. AFR] from dry-land, bush vines in Agter-Paarl; 100% unoaked, & left on the gross lees for 3 mos prior to bottling; 13.5% ABV, 4.69 g/L R.S., 6.25 g/L T.A., & 3.42 pH.
N: Minerals, poss earth, with lemons coming on
P: LM body; VERY RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt beautifully off-set by an acidity which basically defines the wine into the LONG, tangy/swt (65:35) finish with a very, VERY slight bitterness that is at least partially off-set by glimpses of honey. Today's bottle would be best with food "right" now. drink into & through '20. My VG+, more with time &/or a QPR focus? [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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6/2/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 06/02/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 100% free-run Steen [Chenin Blanc in S. AFR] from dry-land, bush vines in Agter-Paarl; 100% unoaked, & left on the gross lees for 3 mos prior to bottling; 13.5% ABV, 4.69 g/L R.S., 6.25 g/L T.A., & 3.42 pH.
N: Earth, minerals, with undertones of apples?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a tangy acidity which pretty much carries matters through the LONG, tangy/swt (60/40) finish with the swtness comping on ULT. For now & through '20, poss longer. My VG+/EXC-, certainly the higher IF one considers the QPR of this vendor's $7.95, which tops wine-searcher.
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5/3/2018 - RichD2 Likes this wine: 88 Points
A very nice example of the fresh and fruity style as described on the back label. Great acidity keep this one fresh. Great QPR!
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4/14/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 4/14/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): *Apparently so new tasting notes haven't yet been posted, this bottling COMMONLY approaches threshold with its R.S. but with VERY low pH.
N: Minerals, apples, poss pears/peaches
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by acidity which morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with ult hints of honey. For now & doubtlessly through '20. My VG+, likely more. [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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3/24/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Sat, 3/24/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): *Apparently so new tasting notes haven't yet been posted, this bottling COMMONLY approaches threshold with its R.S. but with VERY low pH. On this particular bottle/day, however, I picked up *no* sensation of R.S.
N: Lemons, minerals
P: LM, poss L, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by crisp acidity which transitions into a LONG, slightly spicy, very, VERY slightly tart finish with occasional notes of honey. Still coming together, I suspect, yet another CONSISTENT effort from this excellent producer. Should improve into summer '18, then drink into if not through '21. My VG/VG+. [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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