Freddy R. Troya

8.9

The Delicious Monster White Blend 2024
W.O. McGregor – South Africa 🇿🇦

Overview
A vibrant and cheerful South African white blend composed of 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Muscat, and 20% Chardonnay. Produced in the McGregor region, this wine leans into youthful freshness, aromatic charm, and easy-drinking appeal without becoming overly sweet or simplistic. A surprisingly polished everyday white that overdelivers on pure drinkability.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of tropical fruit, ripe pear, melon, white peach, citrus blossom, and soft floral nuances jump from the glass. The Muscat adds aromatic lift and perfume, while the Chenin Blanc keeps the wine energetic and refreshing. Subtle orchard fruit and light honeyed tones round out the finish.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with refreshing acidity and a smooth, uplifting texture. Crisp and youthful, yet balanced enough to maintain freshness through the finish. Very approachable and easy to enjoy casually.

Food Pairings
Excellent with spicy Asian dishes, summer salads, grilled chicken, shrimp tacos, light curries, fresh fruit platters, or casual patio-style sipping.

Verdict
A fun and approachable white blend that delivers far more charm and balance than expected. Bright, youthful, aromatic, and dangerously easy to drink. A great reminder that uncomplicated wines can still be genuinely enjoyable and well-crafted.

Did You Know?
South Africa is home to some of the world’s oldest Chenin Blanc vineyards, and the grape has become the country’s signature white variety, capable of styles ranging from crisp everyday wines to age-worthy masterpieces.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the type of bottle you open casually and suddenly realize the bottle is almost gone. Bright energy, great finish, and incredibly approachable without feeling generic. Cheers! — 7 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

Massive monster of a wine that will obviously polarise. The type of wine that you drink while being fed grapes and fanned with a giant palm leaf. Opulent and luxurious with blackberry, brambles and tar. Its going to be too much for a lot of people but if you like your wines full of flavour then this is for you! — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A cellar release from Dry River I bought a few years ago. Mid to deep crimson with a hint of tawniness. Great intensity - ripe strawberry - liquorice notes - savoury and sweet at the same time. A strange thing to say but it doesn’t scream Pinot Noir. Grainy tannins. Similar experience as with previous Dry River Pinots to be robust, muscular and contained. Following day big and savoury - I stand by yesterday’s note. A great drink but lacks Pinosity. At least Bob Campbell MW liked it giving it 99 points. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Pale crimson, translucent in colour. Will continue if this is accepted. Aromatics of red cherry, beetroot and Sous Bois. Ripe and rich on the palate. All things considered this is a classic Bass Phillip Estate. Still remains one of Australia’s best Pinot Noirs, now under the control of Burgundian, Jacques Fourrier. This wine was made by the founder, Phillip Jones. — a month ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.4

Wine looks very young reflecting a beautiful crimson color and an expressive nose. Red fruit and perfume aromas jump from the glass with secondary notes of cassis, subtle vanilla crème, cigar box and stewed meat. Delightfully delicious, juicy and flavorful coating the entire palate. Red fruits dominate with herbaceous and mineral notes followed by earthy soiled and cedar pepper secondary notes adding to its medium plus finish. — 2 years ago

with Leslie, Karin and 1 other

Tom Garland

9.2

2017 Wine Spectator #1 wine of the year.

Hour decant(some fine/cloudy sediment). A majestic dark crimson color. On the nose: beautiful notes of cherry, vanilla Graham crackers, floral, mint. Taste: smooth, creamy, balanced wine with a little dark plum, dark chocolate, graphite, pepper, and a medium dry oaky tar finish. YUM! unfortunately my last bottle, though I would drink em if you got em, seems to be at the end of its peak. — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Conrad Green

9.2

Dark and sweet with dense tannic grip. Red currant, plums and violets. A bit of a monster — 4 years ago

with Paul and Ara

Yuta Goto

9.0

Bright, well-defined acidity comes through smoothly, with a sense of weight and a satisfying, full-bodied feel on the palate. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

See several previous Delectable notes for this Cuvée. I have 2 bottles left after this one. Penfolds have a whopping drink window up to 2045. The colour is a pale mid crimson with a tawny rim. Mocha, dark chocolate and blackberry notes on the nose. From a low yielding cool vintage which is made for long cellaring. Absolutely superb at the moment. Great palate intensity (mulberry, black berry and dark chocolate) with mellow resolved tannins and a very long persistent finish. No wonder Penfolds tasting book is called The Rewards of Patience. — 10 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.4

Color - blend of crimson and magenta giving it a rich color with bricking. The nose has beautiful scents of plum, aged perfume, sweet tobacco with secondary notes of worn leather crushed rock, a subtle funky earthiness and herbaceous aroma. Taste - soft and smooth covering the palate with red plum,, cedar, smoked meat and subtle sweetness of cassis new cigar and some spice. Definitely will enjoy this rainy Saturday night. — 4 years ago

with Karin and Jill