Chenin Blanc
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Tierhoek,
Ready, but will keep,
Sourced from Piekenierskloof pioneers, Tierhoek, this Chenin is made from fruit produced from a few select, old blocks planted in the 1970s. The nose reflects layers of orchard fruit with citrus pith and hints of wild fynbos herbs. The concentration expansion of fruit across the palate is incredible, with poised and precise acidity layering with earthy minerality, quince and lime zest. The finish is gloriously long and vibrant. Once again, this wine expresses a unique terroir.
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Vincent Careme, Vouvray,
Drink now,
Spring is the perfect name for this exceptionally fresh, limpid cuvée made from grapes grown by friends of Vincent and Tania – many of them former pupils of Vincent at the viticultural college in Amboise. It’s characterised by green apple and citrus aromas, with a steely mineral character on the palate. Bottled with very little sulphur, it’s a wine to enjoy over the next couple of years as an apéritif or, better still, with an assortment of shellfish. Drink now to 2021.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)
Anthonij Rupert,
Ready, but will keep,
Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne join Chenin Blanc in this Swartland blend from the slopes of the Kasteelberg Mountain. Subtle spice and hints of vanilla underpin the fruit, which is reminiscent of white peach and pear. Touches of grilled sourdough add to the complexity on the finish of this rich, medium-bodied white wine.
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer
Tierhoek,
Drink now,
Tierhoek is one of the oldest Sandveld farms in the Piekenierskloof, where leopards abound. This rugged, mountainous ward is situated on the border with the Cederberg Mountains and the Swartland. Since its inception, Tierhoek has adopted organic and sustainable practices to produce high-quality wines that express this exceptional terroir.
This Chenin Blanc has a glorious depth of flavour and rich mouth-feel, with aromas of orchard fruit, greengage and honeysuckle on the nose. Stony, savoury notes underpin the honeyed fruit on the palate, while fresh acidity brings added vibrancy. Drink now to 2022.
This Chenin Blanc has a glorious depth of flavour and rich mouth-feel, with aromas of orchard fruit, greengage and honeysuckle on the nose. Stony, savoury notes underpin the honeyed fruit on the palate, while fresh acidity brings added vibrancy. Drink now to 2022.
Vincent Careme, Vouvray,
Ready, but will keep,
This fabulous, bone-dry Vouvray is from one of the appellation’s brightest stars. On the nose, expect aromas of orchard fruit, lanolin and a seductive hint of peach (indicative of the warm 2018 vintage). The palate is textured and generous, in part thanks to the time this cuvée spent in oak. At the same time, there’s no mistaking the shimmering acidity and mineral core that are hallmarks of Vincent’s wines, and which make this age-worthy, yet hugely enjoyable now with shellfish or as an apéritif. Drink now to 2023.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (autumn 2019)
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (autumn 2019)
Vincent Careme, Vouvray,
Ready, but will keep,
This is an outstanding traditional-method sparkler from the wonderful Vincent and Tania Carême, standard-bearers for the appellation of Vouvray. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc (from parcels certified organic), it’s aged for 18 months on its lees prior to disgorgement. Trim and tense in its youth, the ’15 has acquired extra body and complexity with time in the bottle – the complex nose now includes aromas of honey, ripe citrus and freshly baked apple turnovers. A delicious and original apéritif. Drink now to 2021.
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant (summer 2019)
Vincent Careme, Vouvray,
Ready, but will keep,
Vincent is a young producer, and he’s going places. This sparkling Chenin Blanc is made in the méthode ancestrale. Partly fermented in tank, the wine is then put into bottle with some residual sugar, where the fermentation continues, with no further yeast or sugar added. Unlike some producers, Vincent does disgorge the wine – meaning it is clearer than many of its trendy Pét Nat counterparts. The results are delicious: an apple-and-honey nose leads to a nervy palate with a line of citrus and minerality, softened by a hint of sweetness. Try it as an apéritif or with Asian cuisine.
Frederic Mabileau,
Drink now,
The Mabileau family has been making wine since 1620, but Frédéric and his wife Nathalie are looking to the future. They are currently renovating their winery in the village of St Nicolas de Bourgueil. As if that wasn’t enough, they’re converting a proportion of their vineyards to biodynamics.
This luxurious Chenin Blanc comes from a sunny, single-hectare parcel near Puy-Notre-Dame. Expect aromas of ripe stone and orchard fruit, as well as notes of buttered toast attributable to a year’s élevage in new 600-litre oak barrels. The palate is full and voluptuous, yet balanced, with refreshing acidity. Drink now to 2025.
This luxurious Chenin Blanc comes from a sunny, single-hectare parcel near Puy-Notre-Dame. Expect aromas of ripe stone and orchard fruit, as well as notes of buttered toast attributable to a year’s élevage in new 600-litre oak barrels. The palate is full and voluptuous, yet balanced, with refreshing acidity. Drink now to 2025.
Domaine Gaston Huet,
Ready, but will keep,
Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from the original vineyard, Le Haut-Lieu (literally meaning “the high place”) which surrounds the house and extends for some nine hectares. Its wines are opulent and approachable when young but are genuine vins de garde and benefit from long-term ageing.
Burnished gold in colour, the nose is full of spiced orange, cloves, a touch of quince and lemon rind, and hints of anise. This wine is lovely and mouth-filling and yet has surprisingly high acidity and a dryness that gives the wine a beautiful mouth-watering snap.
Burnished gold in colour, the nose is full of spiced orange, cloves, a touch of quince and lemon rind, and hints of anise. This wine is lovely and mouth-filling and yet has surprisingly high acidity and a dryness that gives the wine a beautiful mouth-watering snap.
Domaine Gaston Huet,
Ready, but will keep,
An intriguing nose that draws you in, Caramel, honey, straw and wet wool are all here. Sweet, even luscious on the palate, but with great acidity that stops it being cloying. Full-bodied and rich, notes of toffee and sugar cane honey are balanced by that wonderful acidity, making it clean on the finish. Truly exceptional.
Chris Pollington, Account Manager
First things first – 1989 is a stunning vintage, one of the best in the 20th Century for the Huet wines. Essai relates to a 1ha vineyard parcel of Le Clos du Bourg which the Huet family decided to apply biodynamic principles. There is a distinctly greater level of development and general largesse to the palate here over the ‘usual’ 1989 Moelleux. This is an expansive and mouth filling wine, lusciously sweet and tropical this has decades of age ahead of it but perfectly balanced meaning it can be enjoyed now. .
Gary Owen, Account Manager
Chris Pollington, Account Manager
First things first – 1989 is a stunning vintage, one of the best in the 20th Century for the Huet wines. Essai relates to a 1ha vineyard parcel of Le Clos du Bourg which the Huet family decided to apply biodynamic principles. There is a distinctly greater level of development and general largesse to the palate here over the ‘usual’ 1989 Moelleux. This is an expansive and mouth filling wine, lusciously sweet and tropical this has decades of age ahead of it but perfectly balanced meaning it can be enjoyed now. .
Gary Owen, Account Manager
Domaine Gaston Huet,
Ready, but will keep,
Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from the original vineyard, Le Haut-Lieu (literally meaning “the high place”) which surrounds the house and extends for some nine hectares. Its wines are opulent and approachable when young but are genuine vins de garde and benefit from long-term ageing.
A big, deep, rich honeyed bouquet leaps from the glass. The palate is, unsurprisingly, youthful, but is also wonderfully luscious. There’s plenty of sweet, mouth-filling fruit and enough acidity to make one involuntarily drool. Drink it now or tuck away for decades.
A big, deep, rich honeyed bouquet leaps from the glass. The palate is, unsurprisingly, youthful, but is also wonderfully luscious. There’s plenty of sweet, mouth-filling fruit and enough acidity to make one involuntarily drool. Drink it now or tuck away for decades.
Domaine Gaston Huet,
Ready, but will keep,
Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from Huet’s most famous vineyard, Le Mont. It is from this site’s green-tinged soils and late-harvesting vines which Gaston produced his longest-lived and arguably most famous wines.
This is a jam-packed glassful with waxy lemons and fresh orange peel on the nose, then a bitter toffee character. The combination of ripe nectarine sweetness with refreshing acidity delivers a perfectly judged and beautifully balanced wine. Quite simply, you can taste the care taken in producing this wine.
This is a jam-packed glassful with waxy lemons and fresh orange peel on the nose, then a bitter toffee character. The combination of ripe nectarine sweetness with refreshing acidity delivers a perfectly judged and beautifully balanced wine. Quite simply, you can taste the care taken in producing this wine.
Domaine Gaston Huet,
Ready, but will keep,
Gaston Huet and his wife built up a domaine with a formidable reputation over the years following its creation by Victor Huet, his father, in 1928. Gaston, war hero and one-time mayor of Vouvray, managed the family domaine from 1947 until his death in 2002. This wine comes from the Clos du Bourg, a vineyard purchased by Gaston in 1953. It is the oldest site in Vouvray, dating back to the eighth century. The allure of this vineyard is not entirely contained within its neat and historic walls, but moreover its reputation for producing formidable sweet wines.
An intense gold colour, there is plenty on offer on the nose: lanolin, caramel and apple crumble to name but a few notes. Gloriously honeyed on the palate, there is a streak of vibrant freshness that stops any cloying sweetness. The finish is incredibly long and persistent. Wonderful!
An intense gold colour, there is plenty on offer on the nose: lanolin, caramel and apple crumble to name but a few notes. Gloriously honeyed on the palate, there is a streak of vibrant freshness that stops any cloying sweetness. The finish is incredibly long and persistent. Wonderful!
Chenin Blanc is an important white grape variety planted in the Anjou-Saumur and Touraine regions of the Loire Valley and the most widely planted varietal grape in South Africa.
In the Loire it produces high quality dry wines in Savenniéres, and luscious sweet, dessert wines in Coteaux du Layon, Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume. In Vouvray and Montlouis it can be dry, medium dry, or sweet, and still or sparkling. Whether dry or sweet, the best Loire Chenin Blancs possess marvellously concentrated rich, honeyed fruit together with refreshingly vibrant acidity. It is Chenin Blanc's high acidity that enable the wines to age so well.
In South Africa Chenin Blanc is easier to grow and is prized for its versatility. It is used as a cheap blending option with Chardonnay, Colombard, and Muscat but also bottled unblended. The best producers keep their yields low and produce impressive mouthfilling wines.