Terroir-istes Local - Chenin, Warm Climate

A focus on South African Chenin Blanc from warmer climates

• 2019 Lukas van Loggerenberg Chenin Blanc Trust Your Gut 87 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region

  (Tasted Blind): Mid straw to yellow in colour. There are delicate, light aromas of spiced Forelle pears, vanilla ice cream, buttered bread, Gala apples, and green melon. Light to medium-bodied, the palate has some intensity but also a hint of VA with a chalky texture, giving a pleasant phenolic grip. Flavours of dried pear, vanilla oak, and confectioners custard have a lively acidity, stitching the wine together with a light, leesy undertow. Warming alcohol feels slightly spiky on the medium finish.

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• 2019 Paulus Wine Company Chenin Blanc Bosberaad 90 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland

  (Tasted Blind): Mid straw to yellow in colour. Lifted aromas that are all pear-orientated—Bartlett pear, pear clafoutis, and pears in custard, with a hint of dried banana and vanilla pod. The palate is creamy and packed with fruit; intense and rich, it carries off with spiced poached pear, a dollop of creme fraiche, and some vanilla-infused tart tatin—clean, enjoyable style. Fairly generous.

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• 2017 The Ahrens Family White Black 87 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl, Voor Paardeberg

  (Tasted Blind): It is light yellow in colour. Ripe aromas of spice, dried Bon Chrétien pears, and nutmeg complement a granitic mineral character. This is a fairly rich entry with some depth of fruit, fresh acidity, noticeable phenolics, and an almost dried pear skin texture. There is a pretty floral, flinty quality that gives some interest but it finishes fairly quickly.
  Blend from Voor-Paardeberg

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• 2016 Cederberg Chenin Blanc Five Generations 86 Points

  South Africa, Western Cape, Cederberg

  (Tasted Blind): Light yellow in colour. The nose presents dried pear, sea breeze, cream, and apple notes. A fresh palate with bite, concentration and plenty of fruit, including pear, apple flesh, limoncello, quince and a line of spice. Relatively big and sumptuous the wine has a juicy, strident acidity. Quite alcoholic with prominent but well-integrated oak, the wine did quickly develop in glass heading to quince and riper tropical notes and an oily texture and a phenolic grip yet followed through to a longer length. A little at odds with the phenols, ripeness and acid and declined in glass.

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• 2017 Cederberg Chenin Blanc Nieuwoudt Five Generations 89 Points

  South Africa, Western Cape, Cederberg

  (Tasted Blind): Mid-straw in colour, this wine is slightly rubberised with pear drops, yielding tangerine, blossom, and Forelle pear but maintaining a slightly concentrated note.
  A rich, succulent entry with a spicy warmth and an alcoholic lift, it has a crisp, zesty acidity to keep it together. Fluidity in the mid-palate, as fleshy pear puree, mandarin, and Meyer lemon overlaid by a lick of butter and toasty oak keeps you occupied, and the wine improves in the glass. Concentrated, there was quite significant oak all be told when I returned five minutes later.

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• 2018 Cederberg Chenin Blanc Nieuwoudt Five Generations 91 Points

  South Africa, Western Cape, Cederberg

  (Tasted Blind): Light lemon in colour. Intense aromas of baked apple and pear crumble with some greener qualities of melon rind and grass (that SBlanc elements creeping in?). A broad, rich palate structure with zippy acidity makes this a bolder wine with sweet ripe fruits, a creamy underbelly, and fleshy juiciness.It is well integrated and concentrated, with a medium to long finish. I felt it was balanced, though some felt it was a little clumsy and had a touch of residual sugar. Closes with more tropical: mango skin and pineapple.

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• 2016 Rijk's Chenin Blanc Cape Winemakers Guild 86 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Tulbagh

  (Tasted Blind): Mid-lemon yellow with browning edges. Floral notes twined with guava, quince, ripe papaya and body sweat. A fairly full-bodied wine with medium acidity, creamy texture and generous alcohol. A juicy, rounded mid-palate is loaded with exotic fruits, Baked custard on golden apple slices, quince jelly and baked pear with a slightly textured flicker of orange peel. Fairly concentrated, the wine feels hot and bothered as it extends to a warm, generous finish. Feels a little evolved too.

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• 2015 Rijk's Chenin Blanc Cape Winemakers Guild 92 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Tulbagh

  (Tasted Blind): Mid-lemon yellow in colour. Intense nose adorned with oak spices, vanilla, poached pear, yellow apple, and a hint of papaya. Noted toasty oak on entry, the wine is richly textured with pear flesh, creme fraiche and peach pulp balanced by a vibrant acidity and juicy tangerine segments. Excellent concentration from older vines, the wine is clean and has a lightly pear skin phenolic (skin contact?) finishing medium to long with baked apples and pineapple.
  100% barrel fermented; matured 14 months in new and second-fill French oak

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• 2012 Rijk's Chenin Blanc Cape Winemakers Guild 82 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Tulbagh

  (Tasted Blind): Light gold with a bronzing edge. Evolved bouquet with musty notes, candied apple, confectionary, white chocolate, Cointreau and preserved oranges in syrup.
  This richly textured, intense wine feels heavy, generous, and cumbersome. Some orange, creamed honey, quince jelly, and a lactic note make it challenging to drink a full glass. It is a little too mature, and the acidity isn't there, and some felt it was slightly oxidised.
  100% hand-picked CB; BF and matured 12 months in one new and one second-fill 300-litre French oak barrel. Natural yeast with no MLF.

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