Very, very few wines with a track record as fine as 21 Gables Chenin
TOP WINE SA Hall of Fame, one of the Top 100 in the 2022 SA Wine Classification, among South Africa’s Top 10 Chenins and one of the country’s Wines of the Year in 2021. The 21 Gables barrel-fermented, barrel-matured Chenin Blanc from the Enthoven family’s Spier wine farm in Stellenbosch. Consistently top quality, always interesting and good value. Outstanding!
The range of 21 Gables wines pays homage to a winemaking heritage dating back more than 300 years – there are 21 gables preserved on various buildings around the estate, and archives indicate that the first vines planted on Spier in the 1700s were most likely Chenin Blanc.
The 2020 vintage is the current release, rated better than 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, winning a double gold medal at the Veritas Awards (SA). Some of the previous accolades: a winner in the Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge with the 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 vintages; trophies at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the Trophy Wine Show with the 2016 vintage; a trophy at the Veritas Awards with the 2015 vintage; trophies at the Decanter World Wine Awards with the 2012 and 2010 vintages…
SPIER 21 GABLES CHENIN BLANC 2020
WO Cape Town: 37-year-old vines planted on the Tygerberg hills. 100% Chenin. Grapes hand-harvested and cooled before hand-sorting, destemming and pressing. Six hours skin-contact. Free-run juice. Fermentation in 300L, 400L, 500L and 2500L tight-grain French oak: “A single-varietal wine made like a blend.” Matured in barrel for 14 months – 60% new wood, 40% second-fill.
Alc 14.5 | RS 4.3 | TA 6.1 | pH 3.5
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: Pale lemon-gold. Fresh, pure style of Chenin Blanc. Ripe peach and pear aromas balanced with notes of dried apricot and oak spice. Luscious palate, refreshed by mouth-watering acidity and lingering fruit core on the finish that provides complexity and texture.
Maturation Potential: Up to 10 years after vintage.
Suggested Food Pairing: Crisp, caramelised pork belly, or duck breast with fynbos honey and spices, or smoked West Coast mussels – or flavourful vegetable Korma curry.
R230pb from the tasting room at Spier, Stellenbosch.
