Off the Record Chenin Blanc 2025

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• Josua | 28 April 2026

  Hi Christian. What is the thinking behind the descriptor word you add to a review? In this case, “Serious” feels a bit off given that the wine is lean and low-ish alcohol, these descriptors feel quite far removed to what the average person expect when drinking a ‘serious wine’.

  Reply
  • Kwispedoor | 28 April 2026

    Hi Josua

    Before the Parker era, almost all unfortified wines had lower alcohol levels. Modern wine trends are also following a road that leads away from all that heaviness again. In your opinion, must a wine be rich and ripe in order to be considered a serious wine?

    Reply
    • Josua | 28 April 2026

      Not necessarily, but you would agree that, in common parlance, when a person calls a wine serious – they usually mean the wine is medium-heavy bodied?

      I’m just curious what the criteria for each descriptor is as currently there doesn’t seem to be any consistency. If you want to define ‘serious’ as more complex then that’s fine but it would be nice to know as a reader so that can I understand the thinking being each descriptor.

      As an example, looking at the last few reviews, the below wines were all labelled as “serious”:
      – Steenberg Canvas Blanc 2024
      – Steenberg Canvas Semillon 2024
      – Steenberg Canvas Nebbiolo 2024
      – La Brune Chardonnay 2025
      – La Brune Pinot Noir 2025
      – Oak Valley Groenlandberg Chardonnay 2024
      – Oak Valley Tabula Rasa CY95 Chardonnay 2022
      – Mullineux Old Vines White 2025
      – Mullineux Old Vines Syrah 2023

      My question is simply what all these have in common within that context.

      Reply
      • Kwispedoor | 28 April 2026

        Well, I can’t answer all your questions, because it’s Christian’s system and he should surely answer on his own behalf. What I will say is that many wines over a myriad of styles can all be serious. Germany’s best Rieslings are definitely amongst the world’s most serious wines, but those are often very low in alcohol, with different levels of residual sugar.

        Last night, I moved some wines to my Ready to Smash rack in the front of my wine room. I pick my dinner wines from there, so they will be consumed fairly soon. One was a 2001 Alto Cabernet (14% ABV) and the other a 1989 Middelvlei Cabernet (12% ABV). I actually expect the Middelvlei to be more enjoyable, all things being equal (which they are not – the Middelvlei’s provenance before I got hold of it some years ago is more uncertain, plus the individual bottle conditions will only be truly revealed once the corks are pulled), because it has a more classic profile. The Alto may even prove to be better, but I certainly don’t think it’s more serious just because it’s riper & fuller. I’ll grant you that many traditional producers will harvest riper and use more oak on their flagships, but that attempt at elevation often backfires. I suppose it does give them an excuse to ask exorbitant prices, though.

        Reply
        • Josua | 28 April 2026

          Fully agree, I am by no means trying to force a specific definition onto them. The thing I struggle with when I see “serious” is that I have no idea what is being conveyed.

          And due to a lack of disclosure, I am automatically applying what I assume he means, based on my understanding of the word – right or wrong.

          Reply
          • Christian Eedes | 29 April 2026

            Hi Josua and Kwispedoor, When I use the word “serious”, I’m not referring to body, alcohol or richness. It’s closer to intent and execution: wines that show a degree of complexity, structure, and composure, and that feel like they’re aiming beyond immediate approachability.

            So typically, what those wines Josua lists have in common is some combination of:
            – layered aromatics and flavour
            – a sense of structure (acidity, tannin, texture) giving shape and length
            – restraint rather than obviousness
            – the ability to hold interest over the course of a glass, not just the first sip

            A Mosel Riesling at 8.5% can be “serious” in this sense; so can a relatively light Pinot Noir. Conversely, a big, ripe, oaked wine isn’t necessarily serious if it’s one-dimensional.

            The Off the Record qualifies as “serious” because it aims beyond simple niceness – it’s about line, control and length.

            Reply
            • Josua | 29 April 2026

              Makes sense, thanks!
• Wessel Strydom | 14 June 2026

  A few weeks ago i was privileged to visit Graaff Reinet for the annual Stoep Sit. Whilst walking the streets and sipping some wine i happened to come upon Kriel Family Vineyards. Sheepishly admitting to the owner & winemaker Philip Kriel that i have never heard of this winery he graciously told me not to worry as he is a relative new kid on the block and his farm is in Stellenbosch. He then went ahead and poured me a generous glass of his 2026 wooded Chenin Blanc and i was immediately a puppet in the hands of this Chenin.
  What an amazing, beautiful fruitful Chenin!
  Matured in new French oak barrels for 12 months this wine is fighting way, way beyond its weight class.
  This is an absolute stunner of a Chenin and at R300 per bottle it is daylight robbery. I am sure this wine will only get better over the next 2 – 3 years.. Anyone looking for real value, this is the one.

  Reply
  • Gareth I | 14 June 2026

    2026 vintage, but it’s already spent a year in oak?

    Reply
    • Wessel Strydom | 14 June 2026

      Gareth, my sincere apology for the typo – 2024 vintage.

      Reply