Pale lemon appearance. Medium intensity nose of apple, pear, lemon, lime. The fruits are slightly candied but not egregiously so. Some green herbaceous notes of dill and floral honeysuckle notes.
High acid. On the high side of medium alcohol (13.5%) which is just slightly unbalancing. Medium body. Medium- intensity. Medium- finish with a metallic character. Good quality. It’s certainly not great and was outclassed by the other two in the lineup but I’ve had much worse entry level South Africa Chenin black at this price point. Reasonable value at USD$7.
Medium lemon appearance. Medium intensity nose that’s more citrus driven with lemon, lemon peel, lime. Orchard notes of ripe pear and green apple also present. Fruits are slightly candied on the nose but not excessively. Floral notes of blossom, white flowers, a little honeysuckle.
High acid. Medium alcohol (13%) that’s nicely balanced. Medium body. Medium flavour intensity. An interesting, lean style that shows some good wet stone minerality into the medium+ finish. Whole-bunch pressed then racked to steel tank with 15% old French oak. A slight bitter element as the wine develops.
Tasted blind and found it a little hard at first to pick up the higher quality of this versus the Mountain View but it emerged clearly and enjoyed drinking it. Borderline of good and very good quality. Reasonable value at USD$17 but I wouldn’t make a particular point to purchase again.
Pop and pour / Single Blind in flight of 3 Chenin Blanc
Medium lemon appearance. M+ nose. Primary aromas of green apple, pear, honeydew melon, ripe peach, slight tropical notes of mango, wet stone. Quite floral with blossom, honeysuckle. Dry. High acid (hits a little more immediately than the building acidity of the South African examples). Medium alcohol (12%). M+ body. M+ flavour intensity. M+ (borderline long) finish.
Very good quality. For me, it was easily identifiable as the best wine in the flight. The strong core of ripe fruit is well balanced by the acid. The fruit is superbly complemented by the pronounced mineral notes with wet stone a constant presence behind the fruit and a lovely, salty twist as the finish develops. Very good at USD$24. I don't think this wine should necessarily be traded off against the Kloof Street in the same flight, but I would have no problem paying the premium for this vs. that wine.
Another 3-4 years should see some nice tertiary aromas developing adding further complexity and would expect this to drink well another 3-4 year beyond that.
2024 Mountain View Chenin Blanc 84 Points
South Africa, Western Cape
Pale lemon appearance. Medium intensity nose of apple, pear, lemon, lime. The fruits are slightly candied but not egregiously so. Some green herbaceous notes of dill and floral honeysuckle notes.
High acid. On the high side of medium alcohol (13.5%) which is just slightly unbalancing. Medium body. Medium- intensity. Medium- finish with a metallic character. Good quality. It’s certainly not great and was outclassed by the other two in the lineup but I’ve had much worse entry level South Africa Chenin black at this price point. Reasonable value at USD$7.
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2024 Mullineux Chenin Blanc Kloof Street Old Vine 89 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
Medium lemon appearance. Medium intensity nose that’s more citrus driven with lemon, lemon peel, lime. Orchard notes of ripe pear and green apple also present. Fruits are slightly candied on the nose but not excessively. Floral notes of blossom, white flowers, a little honeysuckle.
High acid. Medium alcohol (13%) that’s nicely balanced. Medium body. Medium flavour intensity. An interesting, lean style that shows some good wet stone minerality into the medium+ finish. Whole-bunch pressed then racked to steel tank with 15% old French oak. A slight bitter element as the wine develops.
Tasted blind and found it a little hard at first to pick up the higher quality of this versus the Mountain View but it emerged clearly and enjoyed drinking it. Borderline of good and very good quality. Reasonable value at USD$17 but I wouldn’t make a particular point to purchase again.
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2024 Millton Chenin Blanc Te Arai Vineyard 91 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Gisborne
Pop and pour / Single Blind in flight of 3 Chenin Blanc
Medium lemon appearance. M+ nose. Primary aromas of green apple, pear, honeydew melon, ripe peach, slight tropical notes of mango, wet stone. Quite floral with blossom, honeysuckle. Dry. High acid (hits a little more immediately than the building acidity of the South African examples). Medium alcohol (12%). M+ body. M+ flavour intensity. M+ (borderline long) finish.
Very good quality. For me, it was easily identifiable as the best wine in the flight. The strong core of ripe fruit is well balanced by the acid. The fruit is superbly complemented by the pronounced mineral notes with wet stone a constant presence behind the fruit and a lovely, salty twist as the finish develops. Very good at USD$24. I don't think this wine should necessarily be traded off against the Kloof Street in the same flight, but I would have no problem paying the premium for this vs. that wine.
Another 3-4 years should see some nice tertiary aromas developing adding further complexity and would expect this to drink well another 3-4 year beyond that.
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