AS THE 2023 Chenin Safari was winding down, with the final leg of the six-week challenge just around the bend, who would be strutting their stuff at the festival in Franschhoek come Saturday 10 June, one wondered. Some of South Africa’s top Chenin producers put their hands up, including a couple whose wines have such good track records as to be among the Top 10 in the SA Wine Classification. See below for the exhibitors whose wines have received very good reviews from top panels over the previous six months.

And/but given that the festival is organised by the Chenin Blanc Association, is anybody else surprised that more of the Association’s 2022 Top 10 laureates weren’t included among the exhibitors? Alvi’s Drift? Kaapzicht? Nabygelegen? Piekenierskloof Wine Co? Rascallion? Rijk’s? Spier? Stellenbosch Vineyards?

 

Backsberg
Gravel Road 2022 – Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

Bellingham
Bernard Series Old Vine Ltd Release 2021 – 96/100 in Winemag (SA), Gold at Mundus Vini (DE), Double Gold at Michelangelo (SA)

Boschendal
Pavillion 2022 – Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

Diemersfontein

Du Toitskloof
Quest Old Vine 2022 – 95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Fryer’s Cove

Hazendal

Jordan Wines

Ken Forrester Wines
FMC 2021 – 96/100 in Decanter (UK)

Knorhoek

Koelenhof
Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Bush Vine 2020 – Gold at Mondial (BE)

L’Avenir

Leopard’s Leap

Mulderbosch

Old Road Wine Co
Stone Trail Single Vineyard 2020 – 95/100 in Platter’s (SA)

Painted Wolf

Perdeberg
Dry Land Old Vine Barrel Fermented 2021 – Trophy at Michelangelo (SA), One of Top 10 in SA Wine Classification

Raats Family Wines
Eden High Density Single Vyd 2021 – 95/100 in Decanter (UK)
Old Vine 2021 – 95/100 in Decanter (UK)

Roodekrantz
Die Kliphuis 2021 – 96/100 in Decanter (UK)
Donkerman 2021 – 95/100 in Decanter (UK)

Stellenrust
Old Bush Vine 2021 – 95/100 in Platter’s (SA), A winner in Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge (SA)

Stettyn Vineyards

Survivor Wines
Reserve 2020 – 95/100 in Decanter (UK), Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

Villiera

Vrede en Lust
Kogelburg 2020 – Trophy at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)

Zevenwacht
Z Chenin Blanc 2021 – 95/100 in Decanter (UK)