Chenin blanc was the first wine released by Simonsig’s late founder Frans Malan in 1968 and after 33 vintages, Simonsig remains at the forefront of producing premium Chenin blanc wines known for their fresh fruit appeal. With its predecessors, Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2001 a double gold Veritas winner, the 2002 amongst the top three South African Chenin blancs in the 2003 Spring Selection of the Wine 500 Club, and the 2003 a silver medallist at the 2nd Swiss International Air Lines Wine Awards, expectations are high for this newcomer from a superb vintage for this particular varietal.'The release of a new Chenin Blanc has been much in demand and all indications are that 2004 is one of our finest vintages in years. Due to the mild summer weather the grapes were allowed to ripen slowly resulting in near perfect fruit affording riper Chenin blanc flavours,' says Simonsig viticulturist Francois Malan. Most of the Chenin blanc grapes were sourced from approximately 30 year old vineyards in the Greater Simonsberg area northwest of Stellenbosch. 'This terroir brings the intense aromatic fruitiness and full bodied structure of full ripe Chenin blanc to the wine,' explains award-winning Simonsig winemaker Johan Malan, who believes that his 2004 vintage possesses all the complexities and refined elegance of a world-class Chenin Blanc wine. With its bright straw hue and aromatic nose of ripe pears and apples enhanced with a touch of honey, the Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2004 filters the palate with fresh and intense fruit salad tones with good balance and boasts a delicious richness on the aftertaste. 'The honeyed ripeness of late harvested Chenin blanc grapes is beautifully complemented by the flowery tropical fruit in its youth,' adds the winemaker. The wine has an alcohol content of 13,6% with residual sugar of 5.2 g/l, a total acidity of 6.3 g/l and a pH of 3.6. The Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2004 lends itself to an early and easy drinking style of wine. Or in the words of the winemaker: 'It should be enjoyed within two years of the vintage date, while still youthful and showing a fermentation bouquet.' It’s quintessentially the chosen accompaniment for a culinary celebration on a hot summer’s day and complements seafood dishes such as mussels, shellfish or Kabeljou exceptionally well. Those who prefer hot and spicy dishes will be glad to know that a glass of Simonsig’s Chenin Blanc 2004 serves as the perfect partner to a traditional curry or Thai cuisine. The wine also pairs well with unusual tastes such as tripe smothered in a creamy white sauce. The Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2004 retails from R25 and is available at leading wine outlets and supermarkets. Contact:Liz Greyling Tel: (021) 888 4900 Email: lgreyling@simonsig.co.za website:www.simonsig.co.za.