Spice Route Chenin Blanc 2019
By Christian Eedes, 14 June 2021
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At R125 a bottle, the Chenin Blanc 2019 from Spice Route offers amazing quality relative to price. Grapes from a 1978 Swartland vineyard, harvest involved two passes through the vineyard 16 days apart, the early picked portion fermented in tank and matured in clay Qveveries, the later picked portion in old oak.
A hint of reduction before dried herbs, potpourri, lime, and white peach on the nose while the palate is light and lean, the acidity marked but not seering, the finish very dry. An excellent example of the variety styled to be elegant and restrained. Alc 13.8%.
CE’s rating: 95/100.
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Ashley+Westaway | 23 June 2021
Thanks for your review Christian. On the strength of it, I bought a case. The wine lives up to your review. In fact, your tasting notes reflect my experience of the wine really accurately. Perhaps I could add that the wine has a wonderful mouth feel, so typical of those produced from old vineyards. Charles Back produces an incredible range of wines; what a marvellous contribution he makes to the local industry.