The Chenin Blanc Showcase took place at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town on Monday, 20 June 2016. The annual wine tasting event is organised by the Chenin Blanc Association, an organisation dedicated to ensuring that South African Chenin Blanc takes its rightful place with the other great white wines of the world.
A total of 44 wines from 40 producers were up for tasting and segmented into six categories:
- Fresh and fruity chenins from the 2015 and 2016 vintage,
- Barrel fermented chenins from the 2015 vintage,
- Barrel Fermented chenins from the 2014 vintage,
- Older Vintages that are rich, ripe or barrel fermented,
- Chenin Blanc Blends
- Chenin Blanc dessert wines
Some of the wines really stood out above the rest and these are my favourites:
(Taking into account that I did not taste all 44 wines)
Fresh and Fruity
Mooiplaas Chenin blanc Bush Vines 2015
Grapes from dry land bush vine in the Bottelary Hills area were used to produce this palate pleasing chenin blanc. Enjoy with gourmet salads or grilled chicken. You’ll thank me later.
Price: R90
Chenin Blanc Blends
Riebeek Cellars Shortstreet CGV
Easy on the pocket and the palate. The Chenin Blanc and Viognier grapes come from the farm Knolfontein in Riebeek West. The Grenache Blanc is young vines from lower in the valley. This is a fresh dry white wine with the clean uncomplicated structure and well-defined fruity flavours associated with wines produced from the old bush vines.
Price: R50
Barrel Fermented Category
Carl Everson Chenin Blanc 2015
This fine Chenin Blanc is produced from 35 year old single vineyard vines at Opstal Wine Estate in the Breedekloof valley.
Price: R150
Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Chenin Blanc 2015
This wine really over-deliver in the glass, especially when you take a look at its price per bottle. Grapes used for the production of this Loire-style wine originate from the Voor-Paardeberg area, well-known for growing excellent quality Chenin Blanc.
Price: R80
Older Vintage Category
Rudera Robusto Chenin Blanc 2008
This well aged wine has a straw colour with good acidity and a lingering rich lime finish. The grapes for the Robusto are from 30 years old bush vines situated in Bottelary Hills, in the Stellenbosch region.
Price: R169
Spioenkop Wines ‘1900’ Chenin Blanc 2013
Produced by winemaker Koen Roose, who will quickly tell you that the Swartland is not the only wine region in South Africa to produce great chenin blancs. This fine chenin from the Elgin valley has an attractive light gold colour, great intensity with a clean and long finish.
Price: R125
Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2013
In 2010 the Chenin Blanc Association funded research into the old vineyards of the Cape. It turned out the Optenhorst vineyard is the fourth oldest in the country. This Wellington beauty has a restraint mouth feel and finishes with lively, mineral accent.
Price: R250
The annual Chenin Blanc Challenge will be held again this year, and entries close on 29 June 2016. The winning ten Chenin Blancs will receive R20000 each from Standard Bank, to be invested in a social community project linked to their wine estate.
