Laibach Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2017
By Christian Eedes, 6 August 2018
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In what must represent the best quality to price ratio that we shall see this year, Stellenbosch property Laibach has added the extraordinarily good Chenin Blanc Sur Lie 2017 to its reserve range, this wine available for the princely sum of R120 a bottle.
It’s also adds fuel to the fire regarding the debate about old versus new vines – grapes for this wine come from a site planted in 2011 (and farmed organically). One portion of grapes was fermented according to a sort of carbonic maceration technique, the juice on the skins for some 30 days while another was crushed and left on the skins for 48 hours. Maturation lasted 11 months, 50% in concrete eggs and 50% in old 500-litre barrels.
The nose shows a floral top note before pear, white peach and naartjie plus only the vaguest hint of some leesy complexity. The palate has a weightless intensity about it – excellent fruit definition, lovey integrated acidity plus a little bitterness on the finish that is the mark of many high-quality local examples of the variety. Layers and layers of flavour, terrific harmony and length.
Editor’s rating: 96/100.
Find our South African wine ratings database here.
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thandie hadebe | 11 August 2018
great thanks
thandie hadebe | 10 August 2018
Yes great wine , lucky we still have 4 left.
Christian how long will u advise to cellar ?
Christian Eedes | 11 August 2018
Hi Thandie, My advice would be that the wine should drink really well from 2020 to 2022 and any maturation beyond that would depend on your personal tolerance for developed character.
jonathan snashall | 10 August 2018
wow what a finish ‘sweetness’ balanced by gentle savoury grip.
jonnie | 9 August 2018
just visited the winery today and they sold out yesterday. All gone in 2 days!
Sasha | 8 August 2018
Sounds amazing. Looking forward to tasting it!
Rudolf Kühner | 7 August 2018
You can buy it from our tasting room and we also ship the wine to you!
pinot4 | 6 August 2018
great , where can it be bought ? as they dont seem to have much of an online presence