Chenin Blanc is the South Africa’s most widely planted variety, making up 17 148ha or 18.6% of the total 92 005ha currently under vine. Not surprisingly, it’s a category offering tremendous depth of quality.
This year’s Chenin Blanc Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient attracted 90 entries received from 67 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.
The Top 10 emerged as follows:
96
Cavalli Filly 2020
95
Delaire Graff Swartland Reserve 2020
94
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2020
Laibach Sur Lie 2019
Longridge 2019
Raats Original 2020
93
Garbriëlskloof 2020
Mariëtte 2019 (Le Belle Rebelle)
Painted Wolf The Den 2020
Rickety Bridge Paulina's Reserve 2019
“The panel looked to reward wines that showed purity of fruit and freshness. The Top 10 are all the product of deft, sensitive winemaking. In particular, these wine stypically show very little use of new oak – they take you right to the heart of what the Cape has to offer as a place where vineyards are grown,” says Christian Eedes, panel chairman and Winemag.co.za editor.
To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, visit Winemag.co.za.
Join the conversation: @Winemag #CheninBlancReport #DrinkChenin #SAFineWine #Top10
Wines are available for online purchase via boutique wine retailer Dry Dock Liquors alternatively a mixed six-pack of the Top 10 via Wine of The Month Club.