South African Chenin Blanc

In July 2014 I took part in the Standard Bank/Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge, held at Klein Zalze in Stellenbosch. 126 different wines were entered, and the panel of five, chaired by Cristian Eedes (pictured above), tasted all of them, and then retasted the top 32 wines to select 10 winners.

The winner's have just been announced, and the list is below. It created a few surprises, but these wines were all very impressive. Perhaps other wines would have won on another day: there wasn't an awful lot between these and the next 20 wines, all of which were really good. A diversity of styles is represented, which is a good thing, I reckon.

Below are are my own scores on all the wines, from the first round of tasting. I've checked the scores from the next round of tasting for the wines that got through, and there are some differences. That's only to be expected: factors such as presentation order come in, as does the internal state of the taster (we aren't measuring devices). But I figured I'd stick with the scores and notes from the first round.

It's interesting to see how my ratings differed from the overall panel results. I guess this isn't surprising when you pool ratings of wines tasted blind. The scores here are out of 20. I've included the scores of all wines, but I have only added my notes for those wines I rated 16.5 or higher.

Don't take the low scores too seriously. This is blind tasting, and some wines have bad days, and some tasters have bad days. I thought it would be useful to share my results though.

Score	Wine
18	Rijk’s Cellars Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009 Lovely rich apple, cinnamon, toast and pear nose. Concentrated palate is dense, spicy, broad and very seductive with lovely pear and spice characters. Bold but lovely.
18	Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc 2013 Distinctive ripe, complex with with a hint of vegetables and some citrus and pear fruit. Complex spiciness. A distinctive wine with lovely richness and balance.
17.5	Botanica Wines The Mary Delany Collection Chenin Blanc 2013 Lovely complexity here: rich, focused and spicy with tangerine and lemon notes. Nice pear and peach fruit, too, with good texture and weight.
	Rudera Wines Robusto Chenin Blanc 2011 Rich, concentrated, warm and spicy with ripe apples, spice, cinnamon and pear fruit. Bold delicious style.
	Welbedacht Wine Estate Old Bush Vine Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2010 Very appealing baked apple nose with subtle toast and peach. Concentrated, sweet, focused palate with textured pear and apple notes.
	Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2013 Delicate tangerine and citrus nose. Rich and rounded, sweetly fruited palate shows lovely poise and balance.
	Spier Woolworths Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2013 Sweet, floral, delicate pear and peach nose. The palate is sweetly fruited with elegance and balance. This has a generous, seductive personality.
	Remhoogte Wine Estate Honeybunch Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013 Very appealing almond, pear and peach nose. Rich, honeyed, spicy palate with nice weight. Fresh and vivid.
	Dornier Wines Chenin Blanc Bush Vine 2013 Lovely taut grapefruit edge to the nose. Very focused and elegant. Pure, linear, classy palate with beautiful balance and purity.
	Allée Bleue Wines Chenin Blanc 2013 Lovely balance and complexity. Ripe pear, baked apple and a hint of apricot. Fruit focused but with spicy depth.
17	AA Badenhorst Family Wines Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2013 Lovely aromatics with fresh, crisp apple and pear fruit. Textured, fresh, generous palate. Nicely complex with rich pear and a hint of spice.
	Ayama Wines Baboon's Swing Chenin Blanc 2013 Sweet honeyed nose. Distinct mineral, stony edge to the palate. Creamy pear fruit with lots of mineral personality.
	Perdeberg Winery The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2013 Ripe, grapey, honeyed nose with peach, pear and spice on the palate. Gorgeous ripe style with some fruit sweetness and a hint of reduction.
	Kanu Private Cellar & Vineyards KCB Chenin Blanc 2013 Rich and intense with bold textured pear, peach and citrus fruit. Quite concentrated with real depth. Powerful but not unbalanced.
	Cederberg Private Cellar Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2012 Powerful and ripe with a fresh, minerally, lemony edge to the dense pear and ripe apple fruit. Bold but balanced.
	Rudera Wines Robusto Chenin Blanc 2012 Creamy, honeyed, toasty nose. Rich, layered, textured palate with sweet, rounded, honeyed fruit. Very stylish.
	Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc Quattuor 2010 Rich and concentrated yet balanced with intense, warm, spice-fringed pear and peach fruit.
	Rijk's Cellars Private Cellar Chenin Blanc 2009 Rich, sweetly fruited wine with ripe, spicy nectarine and pear fruit. More-ish. Sweet but in balance.
	Raats Family Wines Raats Family Chenin Blanc 2009 Very appealing pure lemon and pear fruit with some melony richness and nice texture. Fresh and delicious.
	Rudera Wines De Tradisie Chenin Blanc 2009 Toast, lanolin and herbs on the nose. Nicely complex with bright pear fruit and some rich texture, as well as a hint of apricot. Lovely broad style.
	Spier Woolworths Siganture Chenin Blanc 2012 Rich and generous with hints of vanilla and coconut. Broad pear fruit with some peachy richness. Lovely weight and breadth.
16.5	Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Signature Range Chenin Blanc 2014 Sweet pear and baked apple nose. Lively tangerine edge to the rich-textured, honeyed palate. Grapey and delicious.
	Boschendal Wines Rachel's Chenin Blanc 2013 Fresh, textured and quite dry with herbs, apple and citrus, and a hint of spiciness. Nice balance and focus.
	Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013 Hints of tangerine, lemons and herbs as well as ripe pear fruit. Nice concentration and good length.
	Donkiesbaai Donkiesbaai Steen 2013 Fresh with lovely ripe apple and pear fruit. Nice texture and balance. Very pleasant with citrus, pear and spice notes.
	KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2013 Stony, nutty, mineral nose. The palate is savoury and mineral with lively lemon and pear fruit. Distinctive.
	Doran Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2012 Interesting mineral edge to the citrus and pear fruit. It’s even a bit gravelly. Some bright apricot and tangerine detail.
	Bellingham Wines The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013 Rich and powerful but balanced. Spice, citrus, apricot and pear, with great concentration. An impact wine with a spicy finish.
	Graham Beck Wines The Game Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013 Lively and intense with grapefruit, spice and lime. Real presence here: lovely fruit.
	Longridge Wine Estate Chenin Blanc 2012 Creamy and warm with vanilla and coconut notes alongside pear and ripe apple fruit. Clean, stylish and drinkable.
	Morgenhof Wine Estate Chenin Blanc 2013 Textured and ripe with apple and pear fruit palate. Nice weight and density. Fresh and fruit driven, and harmonious.
	Fleur du Cap Chenin Blanc 2014 Delicate tangerine and pear nose. Textured, bright pear and spice characters on the palate. Well balanced.
	Mulderbosch Vineyards Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout 2011 Textured and supple with bold, sweet, dense pear and apple fruit. Rich and bold with nice intensity.
	Rudera Wines Lula Chenin Blanc 2011 Powerful with toast, caramel and vanilla notes alongside the rich, spicy pear and apricot fruit. Very bold and intense.
	Simonsig Estate Chenin Avec Chêne 2010 Ripe, sweet, textured pear fruit with some honeyed notes. Good acidity and a bit of spice.
	De Trafford Wines Chenin Blanc 2013 Powerful apple, melon, spice and vanilla flavours. Rich and textured with some warmth.
	Star Hill Wines Chenin Blanc 2012 Creamy vanilla edge to the broad pear and apple fruit, with some spiciness. Nice breadth and weight.
	Rijks Cellars Touch of Oak Chenin Blanc 2012 Delicate lemon/tangerine nose. Fresh, lively citrus palate. Open and fruity, with delicacy.
	Rudera Wines De Tradisie Chenin Blanc 2010 Whisky, herbs, ripe pear and peach on the nose. Broad yet fresh on the palate with vivid, spicy pear fruit. A very rich style.
	Teddy Hall Wines Dr Jan Cats Chenin Blanc 2010 Herb, toffee and pear nose. Quite rich. Bold, powerful palate with vivid, spicy, toasty pear and peach fruit.
16	Ayama Wines Chenin Blanc 2013 16 Delaire Graff Estate Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2013 16 Earthbound Organic Chenin Blanc 2014 16 DeMorgenzon Chenin Blanc Reserve 2013 16 Bosman Family Vineyards Optenhorst Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2012 16 Dewaldt Heyns Family Wines Weathered Hands Chenin Blanc 2011 16 Ken Forrester Wines Woolworths Tell it Like It Is Chenin Blanc 2013 16 Lutzville Cape Diamond Vineyards Diamond Collection Chenin Blanc 2012 16 Jordan Wine Estate Chenin Blanc 2013 16 KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2012 16 Neethlingshof Estate Chenin Blanc 2014 16 Stellenrust Block 28 Chenin Blanc 2013 16 Oldenburg Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2012 16 The Winery of Good Hope Land of Hope Chenin Blanc Reserve 2012 16 Nederburg Wines Heritage Heroes The Anchorman Chenin Blanc 2013 16 Simonsig Estate Chenin Avec Chêne 2012 16 Teddy Hall Wines Dr Jan Cats Chenin Blanc 2011 16 Teddy Hall Wines Sybrand Mankadan Chenin Blanc 2012 16 Villiera Wines Chenin Blanc 2014 16 Uitkyk Estate Chenin Blanc 2012 16 Windmeul Cooperative Cellar Chenin Blanc Reserve 2013 16 Stellenrust 48 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2012 16 Stellenrust 49 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2013 16 Villiera Wines Traditional Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2014 16 Waterkloof Circumstance 2012 16
15.5	Nederburg Wines Heritage Heroes The Anchorman Chenin Blanc 2012 15.5 Du Toitskloof Winery Chenin Blanc 2014 15.5 L'Avenir Vineyards Single Block Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Kaapzicht Wine Estate The 1947 Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Opstal Estate Carl Everson Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Raats Family Wines Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Perdeberg Winery The Dry Land Collection Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Raats Family Wines Original Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Vrede & Lust Wine Farm Casey's Ridge Kogelberg Chenin Blanc 2012 15.5 Rudera Wines De Tradisie Chenin Blanc 2012 15.5 KWV Cathedral Cellar Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Vrede & Lust Wine Farm Casey's Ridge Kogelberg Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Stellenrust Chenin Blanc 2014 15.5 Raats Family Wines Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2012 15.5 Kleine Zalze Wines Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Simonsig Estate Chenin Blanc 2014 15.5 Bellingham Wines The Old Orchard's Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5 Eenzaamheid Chenin Blanc 2012 15.5 Delaire Graff Estate Chenin Blanc 2013 15.5
15	Bergsig Estate Chenin Blanc 2013 15 Beaumont Wines Chenin Blanc 2014 15 Stellenrust Block 24 Chenin Blanc 2013 15 Nuy Wine Cellar Chenin Blanc 2014 15 Riebeek Cellars Chenin Blanc 2014 15 Graham Beck Wines Bowed Head Chenin Blanc 2012 15 Spier Signature Chenin Blanc 2014 15 Mulderbosch Vineyards Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout 2012 15 Ken Forrester Wines The FMC 2012 15 Lutzville Cape Diamond Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2014 15 Kleine Zalze Wines Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2014 15 Leopard's Leap Wines Culinaria Collection Chenin Blanc Grenache Blanc 2013 15 Beaumont Wines Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2013 15
14.5	KWV Cathedral Cellar Chenin Blanc 2012 14.5 Mulderbosch Vineyards Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout 2013 14.5 Raats Family Wines Granite Blocks Chenin Blanc 2013 14.5 Simonsig Estate Exclusive Selection Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2013 14.5 Babylon's Peak Private Cellar Dryland Bushvine Chenin Blanc 2014 14.5 Ken Forrester Wines Woolworths Chenin Blanc Reserve 2013 14.5 DeMorgenzon DMZ Chenin Blanc 2014 14.5
14	Beau Joubert Vineyards & Winery Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013 14 Knorhoek Wines Pantere Chenin Blanc 2013 14 Super Single Vineyards Pella The Vanilla 2012 14 Windmeul Cooperative Cellar Chenin Blanc 2014 14 Jason's Hill Private Cellar Chenin Blanc 2014 14 Ken Forrester Wines Petit Chenin Blanc 2014 14 Maison Estate Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2013 14 Mooiplaas Estate Houmoed Chenin Blanc 2013 14
13.5	Remhoogte Wine Estate Honeybunch Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012 13.5 Tierhoek Chenin Blanc 2013 13.5 Arendsig Handcrafted Wines Rivergold Chenin Blanc 2013 13.5 Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2013 13.5
13	Lutzville Cape Diamond Vineyards Diamond Collection Chenin Blanc 2013 13 Mooiplaas Estate Chenin Blanc Bush Vine 2013 13 Arendsig Handcrafted Wines Inspirational Batch 3 2013 13 Cederberg Private Cellar Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2011 13