Wine: La Cave Chenin Blanc
Vinyard: Wellington Wines
Address: Wellington Wines, Stokery Road, Wellington, 7655
Vintage: 2020
What the Winemaker says:
Medium gold hue, with charming aromas of yellow apples, saffron, baked custard, quince and vanilla on the nose. There is a fleshy texture on the mid-palate with a rounded mouthfeel, and the oak is in perfect balance with the sleek acidity. Intense flavours of peaches and ripe citrus, while the finish has a pithy edge and lengthy notes of dried apricots. This wine is beautifully poised and has the depth, structure and fruit purity to facilitate further ageing.
Review
Aroma: 18/20
Apricot and other stone fruit with soft undercurrents of citrus and hints of vanilla oakiness.
Appearance: 9/10
A rich golden straw colour hinting at deeper complexity.
Flavour: 37/40
The stone fruit in the aroma comes through strongly along with lashings of honeycomb and jasmine. This sweetness is well-balanced with a touch of sour apple, and lime and the acidic characteristics of this varietal.
Mouthfeel: 9/10
Full, and soft with a rounded, well-balanced flavour that leaves with hints of apple lingering on in the aftertaste.
Overall Impression: 18/20
Top quality Chenin. The sometimes overpowering acids of this varietal are so well balanced within the complex, multi-layered flavour. The winemaker estimates that it will age well through 2026, and at just R150 a bottle, this offers quality as well as genuine value.
Total of out of 100 points:
91
Score Breakdown
100 to 95: World beater – Make a plan to try this before you die
94 to 90: Excellent – Drink this now
89 to 85: Good – Thoroughly enjoyable
84 to 75: It’ll do – You won’t remember it
74 and below: Don’t waste your time
