TWO WINES among the 2019 Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge winners, two wines among the Top 10 Chenins in the 2019 SA Wine Classification. None of the other top Cape Chenin producers can make this claim. Such is the quality of the Stellenbosch vineyards and of proprietor Kobus Basson’s team of winemakers, even their sub-R100-a-bottle Cellar Selection is included in the SA Chenin Classification – although the Vineyard Selection and Family Reserve are particularly special.

Barrel fermented, the 2018 Vineyard Selection has been exceptionally well received at shows both locally and outside the country. Before winning at the Chenin Blanc Challenge, the wine earned an ‘Excellent’ rating on Winemag.co.za (SA) and a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge (UK). At just over R100 a bottle, very good value-for-money from one of the Top 20 cellars in South Africa.

KLEINE ZALZE VINEYARD SELECTION CHENIN BLANC 2018
WO Stellenbosch. Vineyards 30 years old, on average. Grapes hand-picked in early morning. Twenty-four hours skin contact. Free-run juice only. Selected yeast strains. Barrel fermented (no new wood). Aged on lees for six months prior to bottling.
Alc 13.5 | RS 5.7 | TA 7.1 | pH 3.1
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: layers of naartjíes, apricots and cling peaches with hints of flint and fynbos; delicate oak flavours on the finish.
Cellaring: enjoyable on release but should age gracefully over the next 10 years.
R108pb at the cellar.