Allée Bleue Isabeau 2010

Smooth textured.

Allée Bleue in Franschhoek seems to be turning the corner in terms of wine quality ever since Van Zyl du Toit joined this Franschhoek winery in mid-2009 from Simonsig. Yesterday a lunch to celebrate the end of harvet and a chance to drink Isabeau 2010,the top-end white blend selling for R88 a bottle from the farm.

It comes proudly emblazoned with a sticker announcing its place among the Top 100 SA Wines of 2011 and while I’m not sure it completely lives up to the status implied by that accolade, it’s pretty smart. It’s a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 47% Semillon and 3% Viognier, matured for nine months in French oak, 30% new. It’s one of those wines that are more about texture than flavour, being rich and creamy although not cumbersome thanks to fresh acidity and there’s some spicy bite on the finish. Great with a bratwurst on a roll. Score: 16.5/20.