Ben says
★★★ Outstanding Wine “Lightly golden with aromas of white chocolate, hay, yellow apple and red bitters. It’s sitting somewhere aromatically between freshly ripe and maturity. Opulent on the palate with dried apricots and sweet perfumes. Long, full, almost a little cheesy from the lees, but poised and satisfying. The alcohol is punchy but very well integrated with the concentration of the fruit. A delight. “
KEY POINTS
Varietal old vine Chenin Blanc with 14.0% abv. Vines are around 50 years old and planted on table mountain sandstone soils 800m above sea level and only 25 miles from the sea. Fermentation is split between stainless steel and oak, with further maturation in large French barrels.
Grown in: Citrusdal Mountain, Western Cape, SOUTH AFRICA.
Food Pairing
Chicken with ginger and soy broth or glaze will work tremendously well with the perfumes and roundness of this wine. It’s also going to fit a bit of fat like camembert cheese or a comforting bowl of homemade fish pie.
Disclosure & Price
Tasted blind at a MW study session. This was bought for around £25 from The Wine Society but is now out of stock. Later vintages are available for around £30.
Reviewed and tasted: 23/04/2024
About the Producer
New Yorker Ginny Povall was self taught but hit international acclaim in South Africa when her first vintage 2009 wine was awarded the coveted five stars from the influential Platter’s Guide. Established in 2008, her Botanica Winery is set in the Devon Valley of the Western Cape, 10 mins from Stellenbosch. She specialises in small batch Pinot Noir and Old Vine Chenin Blanc wines.
