CONSISTENCY is a wonderful thing, as is the emergence of new stars and the resurgence of others. It would be surprising should Stellenrust and DeMorgenzon not feature among the Top 10 in the annual Challenge staged by the Chenin Blanc Association of South Africa, sponsored by Standard Bank. Ditto two other Stellenbosch cellars, Kleine Zalze and Ken Forrester – although this year Forrester is represented by a wine that originated in the Swartland. Also of particular interest value is Donkiesbaai Steen, from grapes harvested further north in the Piekenierskloof area outside Citrusdal. And surely there isn't a Chenin fan who wouldn't like to try the second vintage of Solitude from Le Belle Rebelle in the Breedekloof?
There were 138 submissions for this year's challenge, judged by Wine Cellar merchant/cellarer James Pietersen (chair), Groot Constantia winemaker Boela Gerber CWM, sommelier Higgo Jacobs, wine bar owner/sommelier Penny Setti and wine writer Malu Lambert. Pietersen believes that South Africa has set the benchmark for Chenin Blanc, and that because of the competitive spirit of innovation amongst local winemakers, the country is the pre-eminent source of the most exciting and delicious expessions in the world.
For more about the competition, click here. For the SA Chenin Classification, see here, and for all of the top Chenin ratings during the past two years, click here.
THE PANEL'S FAVOURITES
Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Limited Release 2020
R189pb from Franschhoek Cellar
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2020
R430pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Donkiesbaai Steen 2020
R275pb from Guardian Peak cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Ken Forrester Terre Noire 2020
R295pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Family Res Old Bush Vine 2020
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2020
R120pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Lievland Old Vine 2020
R160pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Simonsig Avec Chêne 2019
R195pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Solitude 2020
R240pb from Le Belle Rebelle cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
Stellenrust Old Bush Vine 2020
R300pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
For more about the Top 10 wines, click here.
