South African winemakers used to call their Chenin Blanc grape “Steen.” This is one winery that can’t quite let go of the old name. Very pale straw in colour with a spicy, white-peach nose; it’s medium-bodied, dry, with nicely balanced pear and quince flavours. (MAN is made up of the initials of the 3 owners’ wives: Marie, Anette and Nicky.)
Avondale is a biodynamic winery in South Africa's Paarl region. Owner Johnathan Grieve employs a "posse" of ducks that patrol the vineyard looking for snails. The snails apparently eat the vines. This fruit cocktail of Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Muscat de Frontignan, Viognier and Sémillon is pale straw in colour with a minerally, peachy nose and a note of cinnamon; it's medium-bodied, dry with a peach and citrus flavour, well balanced with good length.
This Western Cape Chenin Blanc is tipped with 14% Sauvignon Blanc, diluting Chenin's characteristic beauty and replacing it with a placeless white blend. Pear, yellow apple and white peach have a fine cushion of stony lees and a zippy acidity. Sour lemon throughout, to the short finish. A simple, stark white that is best well chilled and served with fresh, sweet spot prawns or scallops.
The vintage for this crisply fresh, ever-reliable Sauvignon has just changed over to 2014. It is every bit as good as ever, with fresh lime, passion fruit and grass herbal notes, finishing dry enough to pair perfectly with oysters on the half shell. Outstanding value.
Cool-fermented with long exposure to the lees, the lavishly perfumed tropical blossom and tropical fruit bouquet leads into surprisingly clean and crisply dry white peach flavours supported by attractive mineral character and refreshing acidity.
Most definitely a cool-climate interpretation of Syrah. Grown at higher elevations and on granite soils (which Syrah loves), it is elegant, with black pepper, violets, plum, oregano, cured meat and hints of hickory. Tannins are flush and provide 5 years of cellaring if so desired. Rack of lamb marinated in rosemary and garlic is the way to go.
Ripe melon, creamy pear, greengage and fleshy nectarine is textured with spicy apricot fuzz. Lees plumps out the round mid-palate, before a bright bitter citrus and herb finish. Though a tad clumsy, this incredible-value, youthful wine brings all of Chenin's orchard-creamy richness and is a worthy buy.