Rijk’s Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2003
By Christian Eedes, 13 October 2015
-
Share:
Do South Africa’s white wines mature with benefit? Later this week a tasting convened by the South African Sommelier Association and presented by Eben Sadie to address precisely this question.
Golden oldie.
In the meantime, the Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2003 from Rijk’s in Tulbagh given to me by winemaker Pierre Wahl who thought it might just be hanging in there.
How it was put together is fascinating: 60% fermented in barrel, 40% in tank, both portions matured for 12 months before being blended. Abv 14.6%, RS 6.3g/l, TA 6.3g/l and pH 3.01.
Golden yellow in colour, the nose showed the remnants of citrus and peach to go with not unappealing nutty and caramel notes plus a little lanoline. Plenty of grunt on the palate – rich and broad with coated acidity and savoury finish. Not super-detailed but still very much alive and quite satisfying to drink.
#WinemagRating: 90/100.
-
Share:
Related articles
Opinion & Analysis
Coronavirus and SA wine: Eben Sadie of Sadie Family Wines
18 May 2020
The current conversation around Coronavirus and its effect on the South African wine industry is perhaps inevitably very emotionally charged. We put the same set of questions to a variety...
Opinion & Analysis
Podcast: Interview with Eben Sadie
7 May 2020
David Clarke of the agency Ex Animo Wine Co. provides a podcast consisting of a series of interviews with industry figures, a recent subject being Eben Sadie of Sadie Family...
1
Opinion & Analysis
2019 – the year in review
3 December 2019
Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of the modern era of South African fine wine is that the trajectory of the improvement curve remains so steeply upwards, the inevitable plateau period...
Comments
0 comment(s)