Chenin Blanc
Thorne & Daughters
Cat's Cradle Chenin Blanc 2017
The nose reveals; lemon that’s a touch sour in style, peach, lime, overripe pineapple, a little green apple, waxy notes, honeysuckle, fruit blossoms, hints of smoke, delicate minerality and soft chalkiness, yellow & spring flowers with mixed greens.
The body full and round. Peach, white peach, apricot, lime, lemon, some white spice, coating medium minerality & powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, yellow, spring flowers with mixed greens. Nice round acidity and well polished finish.
Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door where John makes Thorne & Daughters. — 9 days ago
Domaine Bernard Baudry
La Croix Boissée Chinon Blanc Chenin Blanc
I really enjoyed this wine, but got the sense it will really improve with some bottle age. Plan on getting more to lay down if I can keep my hands off it in the meantime. — a month ago
Gabrielskloof
The Landscape Series Elodie Chenin Blanc 2018
The2018 Gabrielskloof Elodie - The Landscape Series is 100% Chenin.
The nose reveals; very ripe; white peach, lemon curd, pineapple, lime, vanilla, light honeysuckle, green apple skin, tropical melons with yellow flowers, yellow lilies and spring flowers.
The body full, lush & round. The minerality almost gives it a tannin presence. It’s a heavy powdery palate costing. Very ripe; white peach, lemon curd, pineapple & lime. Vanilla notes, light honeysuckle, green apple skin, tropical melons, mid volcanic minerals and powdery chalkiness, just a touch of white spice. with yellow flowers, yellow lilies and spring flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The rich, ripe, lush, elegant finish is delicious.
Photos of; Gabrielskloof courtyard, tasting lounge and our tasting area and front entrance sign. — 9 days ago
Domaine Huet
Le Mont Moelleux Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2002
Total sensory play, you know what Chenin Blanc taste like...right? Through it out the window, clear your head for this. This was a stunner, peach, cream and petrol nose. Slightly sweet but not, hint of saline and wet concrete. Full mouth-coating. I enjoyed this on the pop of the cork and three hours later showed no signs of fading. Thank you @Bill Bender for the experience! — 3 days ago
DeMorgenzon
Reserve Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc 2016
The nose shows nice subtle yellow and white florals with mixed greens. Green apple, lime candy, meyer lemon, white peach, apricot skin, fruit blossoms, light white spice and soft chalkiness.
The palate shows bright, fresh, fruits of; Green apple, lime candy, meyer lemon, white peach, apricot skin. More pronounced white spice and soft chalkiness than the nose with fruit blossoms. The acidity again is high. The finish is a little out of balance with the fruit and alcohol.
Photos of; DeMorgenzon grounds, demarcated Chenin block, sign entrance and main tasting bar. — 12 days ago
Mulderbosch
S2 Block Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2014
Color of saturated gold, a bit bubbly. Nose of roasted nuts, Sauternes like nose, ripe pineapple and banana, spice, strength of alcohol, and a bit oak, almost feel like Chardonnay. Taste shows complex mineral, quite dry yet silky, roasted nuts, zest, ripe fruit flavors without sweetness, peppery even, and right amount of acidity. Aftertaste is medium long with savory tastes. Nothing to complain. — 4 days ago
Raats
Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2018
It’s fuller & creamy on the nose than their Original Un-Oaked Chenin. More pronounced wet wool as well. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, white peach, green melon, honey notes, very under minerals & chalkiness, light straw notes, wafting dry herbs with yellow flowers and lilies.
The palate show a little more pronounced wet wool quality than the nose. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, white peach, green melon, honey notes, some cream, very under minerals & chalkiness, light straw notes, wafting dry herbs with yellow flowers and lilies. Nice round well done acidity. The finish is polished fruits, yielding to very pleasant minerality and chalkiness.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room. — 11 days ago
Sandlands
Kirschenmann Chenin Blanc 2015
Understated and majestic. God, I love Chenin Blanc as a food wine. Crisp, clean notes of lemon curd and kaffir lime. Silky smooth, low ABV, and racy palette cleansing acidity make this wine a wonderful dining companion. Factor in the versatility and affordability and I can’t get enough. Kudos Tegan! — 7 days ago
Rustenberg
Chenin Blanc 2018
The nose reveals; peach, white peach, apricot, lemon, pineapple, some grapefruit, almost candied lime, marmalade notes, soft chalkiness & minerality with yellow flowers.
The body is thick, waxy and full. There a bit of a sour presence to the fruit. Peach, white peach, apricot, lemon, pineapple, some grapefruit, almost candied lime, marmalade notes, soft chalkiness & minerality with yellow flowers. Round acidity and thick well polished, rich finish.
Photos of; The sloping hillside vines at Rustenberg, Owner/Winemaker Murray Barlow & I talking about his vineyard (my favorite pastime), grounds around Rustenberg and our tasting area. — 15 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Raats was an interesting visit from all our others. Raats is considered a small producer in the 8th ranked wine producing country in the world.
Raats buys the majority of their fruit. The vines around their tasting room, they work but, do not own. They produce their wines at another producer’s facility. It’s a daunting expense starting a Cellar Door or Winery. Custom wine crush facilities are a trend not just in Napa but, other parts of the world as well. In this particular case, it saves the owner enough money to drive the very nice cars parked outside their tasting room, one a Ferrari.
This is their no wood/oak Chenin Blanc.
The nose shows; soft tones of wet wool, peach, white, lemon, dry green herbs, grapefruit, chalkiness, volcanic minerals & yellow flowers.
The body is round, full and beautiful. Soft wet wool, peach, white, green melon, a little sour lemon, dry green herbs, grapefruit, chalkiness, palate pressing medium intensity volcanic minerals & yellow flowers. Nice round acidity and a well balanced, polished finish.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room.
— 11 days ago