Springfontein Terroir Selection Chenin Blanc 2013
By Christian Eedes, 21 July 2015
Not all Chenin Blanc has to come off old vines from Stellenbosch or the Swartland in order to be good as the Terroir Selection 2013 from Springfontein near Stanford proves. From a single vineyard block planted in 1998 on sandy limestone soils, grapes were picked early, 60% of fermentation occurring in second-fill French oak barrels and 40% in tank, maturation lasting 16 months.
On the nose, citrus and peach plus a touch of leesy complexity. The palate shows pure fruit along with a nice savoury undertone . It doesn’t have the fullness or breadth of some examples of the local variety, but it’s precisely this lean, almost severe quality which appeals to me. The finish is particularly piquant, thanks to a small portion of grapes fermented on the skins. Price: R117.50 a bottle.
Score: 93/100.
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