2019 David & Nadia Chenin Blanc Plat'Bos, South Africa, Swartland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

In trying to explore Chenin Blanc, this one came highly recommended.  It is expensive for Chenin, but quite good.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with red apples, salinity, peach and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied with a crisp, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, the apples come thru along with a bit of peach and great minerality.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and better with food.  It would be nice with a dish that combined pork and roasted apples.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2015 Alheit Vineyards Cartology Bush Vines, South Africa, Western Cape, Wine ReviewWine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

This is a blend of 86% Chenin Blanc and 14% Semillon from South Africa.  Medium gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red apples, slight wax/lanolin notes and a bit of honey dew.  Medium to full bodied.  Some warmth on the palate.  Very concentrated with flavors of apples, slight honeyed notes and an almost lime quality.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  A very serious wine that is ageing well.  It has shed its primary qualities at this point.  This should drink well for another ten years (provided one enjoys aged Chenin).  It went very well with a "Somosa Pie".

2019 Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc, South Africa, Cape of Good Hope, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with limes, slight orange peel, and a slightly burnt note.  Nice, slightly oily texture.  This is dry.  On the palate, limes and a slight bitter almond note.  There is a bit of depth here.  It needs to food to show its best.  Goat cheeses would work well, say a Goat Cheese and Beet salad.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2018 Ken Forrester Pat's Garden Reserve Red, South Africa, Stellenbosch, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

From South Africa, this is a blend of 76% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, chocolate, slight tobacco, a hint of bell pepper and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru along with some cherries and a bit of chocolate.  Some depth.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This will drink nicely on its own but better with food.  Drink over the next three to five years.  It will work well with meatloaf or a burger.  

2019 Barista Pinotage

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Pinotage has long been a maligned grape. Though South Africa is known for pinotage, there are many South Africans who wish it did not exist. However truly exceptional pinotage can indeed be found. Created as a cross between pinot noir and cinsault in 1911, Barista creates a well-defined iteration. This wine states pinot very clearly yet the underlying notes of earth, mushroom, tropical fruits are nonetheless there, but not in the traditional banana way that many inferior pinotage are known for.

2016 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, South Africa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is a classic dessert wine in an attractive 500ML bottle.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is drop dead gorgeous.  Apricots, marigolds, slight honey, floral notes, and a touch of dried fruits (oranges?).  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet not cloying.  Clean.  On the palate, this is not quite the nose, but outstanding anyway.  Layers of candied apricots, quince (think tart oranges with more acidity), and just a touch of spice (nutmeg?).  Enough acidity to balance the sweetness.  Complex and also delicious.  Long finish.  This should last decades.  Great on its own, this should

2018 Mullineux Family Kloof Street Swartland Rouge, South Africa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This is a blend of 44% Tinta Barocca, 44% Syrah, 7% Grenache, 4% Cinsault, and 1% Carignan.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, char and spice.  On the palate, this is a bit tart.  Black cherry fruits with underlying char/ash.  Moderate acidity.  It drinks like a nice Cotes du Rhone.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  Nice on its own, this would work better with pizza or a burger.  

2020 Anthonij Rupert Chenin Blanc Protea, South Africa, Coastal Region, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

Protea is apparently the national flower of South Africa.  The bottle is clear but covered with stenciled white flowers.  Very unusual and well done.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears and slight mint.  Light bodied.  On the palate, tart apples but also some oranges.  Nice texture.  moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with lighter foods such as seafood salads.  Drink over the next few years.  

2019 Black Pearl Vineyards Chenin Blanc Black Pearl, South Africa, Swartland, Chenin Blanc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Gold in color with green hues.  The nose has seltzer, limes and a scent that many of us trying thought cannabis.  On the palate, this lacks much acidity.  Lime fruits with a bit of candied lemon.  Moderate finish.  It is tasty and easy to drink.  Drink over the next couple of years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with lighter salads.  

Pages