The De Villiers Family whose ancestors, Abraham, Jacques and Pierre who arrived in Table Bay on the good ship Gardiol on 9th May 1689 as French Huguenots, have produced some of our greatest Writers, Musicians, Politicians, Sportsmen, Academics and Poets, and have also made a considerable contribution to Agriculture
Landskroon Wine Estate, on the South West facing slopes of the Paarl Mountain, has been owned and managed by the De Villiers Family for 5 generations. All through that time, the eldest son of the eldest has been named Paul. So, for 5 generations, there has been a Paul at the head of the Cellar.
In the cellar, the grapes came in early in the day before the rising heat in the vineyards affected the bunch temperature. After destalking and crushing, the free run juice and some light pressings were racked off and cold settled before going to cool and slow fermentation. There was no maturation in oak barrels. The wine was then prepared for bottling.
Pour
From a Burgundy shaped bottle, closed with a black screw cap. The label is a stunning new design and does the wine in the bottle a great service. In the glass, the wine is a pale straw with youthful flashes of lime green. The aromas are all classical Chenin Blanc, tropical fruits like desiccated pineapple, mango and citrus. The palate, medium bodied, is crisp and fresh and very beguiling. Flavours of stone fruits, crisp apples, white flowers and fynbos honey are all there and blend well in the long and gently waning aftertaste. A wine for now drinking.
Pair
The Landskroon Chenin Blanc 2020 is an anytime wine. Mid-morning refresher, sundown sipper and great with food. I always punt a butter roasted organic chicken, though it is great with sushi, sashimi and delicate Oriental curries as well. With the festive season upon us, we will be out-turkied and out-hammed. Dianne Bibby’s Buttered Roast Chicken is a dream of a dish. Click HERE for her recipe.
Click HERE to listen to my podcast about this wine, first aired on Fine Music Radio.