2015 Alheit Vineyards Chenin Blanc Radio Lazarus

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 94.5 points

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  6/1/2019 - Fat1Wombat wrote: 92 Points

  Pale straw.
  Green apple, mineral and chalk.
  The palate has great weight although very tightly wound.
  Lovely wine. Wish I had a couple of bottles in the cellar to age.

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  10/17/2018 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 95 Points

  The 2015 'Radio Lazarus' is a completely spectacular wine from Chris and Suzaan Alheit and one of the most compelling Chenin Blanc's I have ever tasted from South Africa. This vintage is the first in which Radio Lazarus comes from two separate blocks. These blocks of old bush vines are some of the most extreme in the cape, one block planted in 1978 is perched on top of a hill called Ribbokkop, which is situated 403 meters above sea level, and the other planted in 1971 at 450 meters above sea level. Although the soil compositions of shale and granite are similar in both blocks, each adds its own unique touch to the wine. As this wine opens it releases gorgeous aromas of orchard fruit and white peaches with notes of honeysuckle, orange zest, floral, saline minerals and a dusty character all coming together beautifully. It continues to impress as it demonstrates remarkable overall balance and precision with a wonderful textural richness that is backed by lively acidity and mineral streaks through the elegant finish. Although this is already absolutely outstanding, I expect this will age beautifully over the next decade and even beyond. Another interesting thing to note is the wine is fermented in large clay pots made by a potter living in Hout Bay who uses clay from the brickfield at the foot of the Bottelary hills, further adding to its origin and character. This wine deserves a place amongst the worlds best Chenin Blanc and is a true testament to the level of quality that can be achieved in the region. (Best 2016-2027) - November, 2016 (JD)

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  4/2/2018 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Lovely wine. We drank this with a creamy fish soup spiced up with saffron, garlic and chili and it was a great match. We tasted this side by side with a bottle of Mullineux Chenin Blanc Schist 2013 and I must say that this was the better wine, with more freshness, balance, less fat body, but very complex nose.
  
  Served this blind first and the rest of the crew mistook the yellow apples/grilled lemon/cautious oak for a grand cru chablis in a warm year.
  
  Just great!
  
  ps we aired it for quite some time before dinner, which was wise.

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