BESIDES the incredible achievement of Stellenrust, who won three of the Top 10 awards for the second year in succession, the results of the 2024 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Challenge organised by the Chenin industry association of South Africa also shone the spotlight on two more producers who picked up where they left off in 2023, Lievland and Flagstone, the latter's 2023 Paradigm having also earned top marks in the SA Winemag report on the category a few months earlier. Besides various Stellenrust Chenins, Lievland Old Vine as well as Knorhoek and Kleine Zalze Family Reserve again showed their makers' mastery of the variety as recognised by the top panels of wine experts over the years, and there's no doubt that soon Zevenwacht Z will also qualify for the SA Wine Classification.
In total, there were 127 entries from 75 producers sourcing grapes from vineyards spanning more than 20 different areas of the Cape winelands. Chairman of the judges, Higgo Jacobs, noted that WO Stellenbosch took six of the Top 10 spots despite the fact that it accounts for just 8% of South Africa's 32 000ha of Chenin Blanc plantings – click here for the latest industry stats. All of the Challenge winners are wooded wines and all but one are sealed with a cork – Lievland using a screwcap.
The panel of judges who deliberated over three days comprised sommelier Higgo Jacobs (chair), Cape Wine Master Ginette de Fleuriot, Master of Wine Madeleine Stenwreth from Sweden, with Stellenbosch winemakers Noncgebo Langa (Delheim) and Shawn Mathyse (Ken Forrester Wines).
TEN OF THE BEST
Cape of Good Hope Van Lill Chenin Blanc 2023 (Rupert)
R290pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek (grapes from Citrusdal Mountain)
Flagstone Paradigm Chenin Blanc 2023
R286pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand (grapes from Agter-Paarl)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2023
R284pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Knorhoek Chenin Blanc 2022
R200pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2023
R190pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch (grapes from Paarl)
Nabygelegen Rudmatis Chenin Blanc 2022
R200pb ex-cellar, Wellington (WO Coastal)
Stellenrust Next FN Level Chenin Blanc 2023
R350pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Stellenrust Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2023
R350pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Stellenrust Secrets & Lies Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2023
R350pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Zevenwacht Z Chenin Blanc 2023
R295pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch (WO Polkadraai)
