Wines of the Week – Chenin Blanc.

Mountain Shadows, Arabella and Tukulu.

This week we looked at and tasted Chenin Blancs, one of the most underrated varietals in South Africa. Great value for money, R30 or so, gets you a bottle of unctuous tropical fruit tasting wine laced with various citrus and mineral fruits. It can accompany most food, and equally be enjoyed as a sipping wine on a hot summers evening, or indoors on a windy rainy autumn’s evening. 

The wines we chose were picked for their widespread availability, we bought these in Pick n’Pay. 

1. Kleine Zalze.R32.99. Tropical fruit, melon, pineapple, lime. 

2. Spier. R33.99.Tropical fruit, vanilla, grapefruit, melon. 

3. Alexander Fontein. R31.99.Guava, melon, hints of citrus. 

4. Mountain Shadows. R22.99.Melon and honey, sweet. 

5. Arabella. R22.99. (On special offer) Tropical fruit but one dimensional. 

6. Tukulu. R37.95.Tropical nose, oiliness with fruity apricot aftertaste. 

What we were looking for were wines that we would like and buy again. it’s that simple. 

We sipped, slurped and spat our way through this tasting. Tasting Chenin Blancs was very enjoyable. 

Chenins from Kleine Zalze, Spier and Alexander Fontein.

Our winner, by a nose, just ahead of Kleine Zalze, was Spier. 

Our Taste Buddies panel loved the combination of tropical fruit and citrus grapefruit taste with a hint of vanilla.