{"title":"Chenin Blanc","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"vouvray-cuvee-constance-50cl-dom-huet-2018","title":"Vouvray Cuvee Constance Dom. Huet 2018 50cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18.5\/20 points, Jancis Robinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003ePale gold hue. Intense but refined nose, the depth of fruit apparent. Very pure with citrus-mandarin and floral notes. Sweetness and intensity on attack but undercut by the acidity to give balance. Again, great purity of flavour. Clean and long with a saline edge on the finish. Remarkable.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFounded almost a century ago, Domaine Huet is arguably Vouvray's most famous name. An early adopter of biodynamics, Huet was certified in 1993 when even organic producers were considered hippies. Production of wine styles (from dry to sweet) varies depending on the seasons, which are becoming more erratic every year. For example, in 2018, around 85% of production was sweet, making the rare sweet cuvée Constance possible. The original vineyard, Le Haut Lieu, is a clay-based site first purchased in 1928 by founder Gaston Huet. It now covers 15 hectares and remains the most fruit-forward of the estate’s sites. The addition of Clos du Bourg came in 1953. It’s a real clos, surrounded by walls and is a little warmer than the other sites, making it the first of the Huet vineyards to be picked. Conversely, the vineyard Le Mont, which was acquired in 1957, has a greenish-yellow clay soil with flint scattered throughout, making it a cooler site. It is picked the latest and takes time to come around in the bottle. In 2022, the wines at Domaine Huet are gentle due to their slightly lower acidities, making them open and approachable. It was a vintage of patience as there was so little water, and the vines progressed slowly; even at harvest, some bunches were still hard, so there was a lot of crop sorting - Vinous\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Domaine Huet","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43554795585721,"sku":"A2461418","price":125.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_16af1331-9bc6-4602-8d7d-884090ba29db.jpg?v=1742383958"},{"product_id":"lourens-family-wines-skuinskap-steen-2022","title":"Skuinskap Steen Lourens Family Wines 2022","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSourced from Piekenierskloof, Lourens Family Wines Skuinskap Steen 2022 is  one of South Africa's finest fine Chenin's, renowned for its minerality and structure. Exciting to drink, with so much energy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFranco Lourens spent some years working with the great Chris Alheit before setting to focus entirely on his own range of wines. This is a breathtakingly self-assured range and in just a few vintages, places Franco into the very top bracket of top-end New Wave SA producers. Whilst still extremely modest, he is inevitably set to join the likes of Chris Alheit, Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Duncan Savage \u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eet alia\u003c\/i\u003e in the shimmering constellation of New Wave South African stars. Sharing cellar space with good friend Lukas Van Loggerenberg, Franco works with a variety of sites across the Western Cape including the country's oldest Verdelho vineyard, and two exceptional sites in Piekenierskloof.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FRANCO LOURENS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44366680654009,"sku":"A1576122","price":29.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Lourens-Skuinskap-Steen-Bottle-Shot.jpg?v=1742382848"},{"product_id":"blank-bottle-empire-strikes-back-2022","title":"Empire Strikes Back Blank Bottle 2022","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith its revolutionary influenced label, The Empire Strikes Back tells the story of Pieter leaping to the defence of Stellenbosch, the original old guard and ‘empire’ of South African wine, in its fightback against the trendy new kid on the block, the Swartland. Now here’s a white with plenty in the tank for the years to come. It’s subtle on the nose to start, offering sprays of spring apple blossom, tarte fine layered with pears and ground almonds, clementines, proper cloudy apple juice and a lingering anise note. As it opens up, there’s some lychee and pineapple too, and the palate is grippy and with more of that lovely apple juice character that’s persistent all the way through to the finish. Tasting it over several days gives a glimpse to its future –we’d say drink now-2028. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe tale behind the name BLANKbottle is that when Pieter was starting out, he made a small parcel of Shiraz and was left with a few unlabelled cases. One day, a woman wanted to buy a wine – “Anything but Shiraz,” she told him. Pieter shrugged and sold her the unlabelled Shiraz, neglecting to mention the variety. A few weeks later she returned demanding more, saying it was the best thing she’d ever drunk. For Pieter, it was a lesson on the gap between what people think they like (or dislike) and what they actually like (or dislike). After that, he decided not to list the varieties on his labels. Every one of Pieter’s wines is a story, rather than a grape variety, and it’s the juice inside the bottle which reveals that story. He doesn’t own any vines, but instead scours South Africa’s winelands for top-quality fruit that has somehow slipped under the radar, now sourcing from nearly 70 sites. Some years he’ll make 20 wines, other years 35. With the benefit of anonymity, variety and regional identity take a back seat while parcel expression does the driving. These are some of South Africa’s most original wines, made by one of South Africa’s most original winemakers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"BLANK BOTTLE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44373743829177,"sku":"A3776122","price":32.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_16453188-4625-4433-a06f-4a04685854be.png?v=1742576982"},{"product_id":"aa-badenhorst-grensloos-chenin-blanc-2023","title":"Chenin Blanc Grensloos AA Badenhorst 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 points, Tim Atkin - 95 points, Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e96 points and a Wine of the Year for Chenin Blanc - 'Grensloos rounds up all Adi Badenhorst's single vineyard sites, most of which used to be bottled on their own. Using grapes from five sites on Jakkalsfontein and Kalmoesfontein, it's very gently wooded in foudres and concrete tanks, with lots of leesy richness, stony concentration and layers of beeswax, white flowers, honey and citrus. More than the sum of it's parts. Drink 2025 to 2035.' Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Report 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe firmly believe that Adi Badenhorst is one of the most exciting winemaker in South Africa. He is also the most frustrating. His laid back, self-deprecating, playful manner keeps you guessing and makes you wonder whether he has any idea what he is actually doing, whether he just chucks some grapes into a vat and hopes for the best, but we know full well that there is a huge amount of expertise that goes on behind closed doors, when no one is around to witness his skill and diligence ...and spoil his reputation!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BADENHORST","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55080614101378,"sku":"A4896123","price":42.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_4171ba73-d310-4dbc-8194-39edf7429340.jpg?v=1750863465"},{"product_id":"tembela-wines-chenin-blanc-2024","title":"Tembela Wines Chenin Blanc 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eA beautiful example of Chenin Blanc from rising star winemaker Banele Vakele. Gorgeous and textured on the palate with notes of orange and beeswax. Mineral and classy. This is SA Chenin at its best. Banele is getting noticed and we couldn't be happier for him - both Neal Martin of Vinous.com and Tim Atkin MW have praised his wines, and Banele was commissioned by the Tate Modern in London, to make a wine for the launch of a year of modern African art.#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBanele (pronounce Ba-nel-ee) grew up in Cape Town's largest township, Khayelitsha. He still lives there, looking after four younger siblings, after his mum died. He earned a scholarship to a Constantia high school and his classroom looked out over a vineyard, he sat there daydreaming about what life in wine would be like. He got a degree at Elsenberg Agricultural College and enrolled on the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Protégé programme, where he did stints in Burgundy, Oregon and Yarra Valley. The final stage was with Savage wines. Such was Duncan's fondness and respect for Banele as a person and winemaker, he was there for nearly 6 years, just finishing with him before Christmas to fully focus on his own project, supported and encouraged to do so by Savage himself. Banele has named his wine after his late mother, Tembela, which means faith, hope and belief. The label pays tribute to women wearing traditional Xhosa attire carrying wine barrels. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TEMBELA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55277473071490,"sku":"A4446124","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_af935e2d-74ea-4556-a9c7-ec93cb1b1d99.png?v=1749568568"},{"product_id":"curator-white-2024","title":"Curator Chenin, Viognier, Chardonnay 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Curator White is consistently a feat of brilliance, and the 2024 is another easy-drinking, great-bang-for-your buck bottle. Fresh and vibrant, it's a super wine to enjoy on a warm evening. Chenin Blanc makes up the largest proportion as the backbone and structure. The Chardonnay brings in delicious notes of dried peaches and apricots, whilst the Viognier, from one of SA's favourite growers and vineyards, completes the Swartland canvas bringing body and length. This is amazing value for money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe’re calling it: this might just be one of the best-value white wines to come out of South Africa. It’s an absolute steal. Bursting with character and charm, this bottle punches well above its price tag and fits just about any occasion, whether it’s a lazy weekend sip, a midweek glass with your 5-minute dinner masterpiece, or passed around with mates over Friday night snacks. Frankly, you’d be hard-pressed to beat it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CURATOR","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55303002816898,"sku":"A2626124","price":10.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Curator_Chenin_Blanc_Chardonnay_Viognier_2023.jpg?v=1756467439"},{"product_id":"secateurs-chenin-blanc-aa-badenhorst-2025","title":"Secateurs Chenin Blanc AA Badenhorst 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy is this wine so special? Why does it win so much rapturous admiration? Because it \u003c\/span\u003esurprises\u003cspan\u003e people with its quality. You just don't expect to find an organic, old-vine Swartland chenin (yields as low as 4 tons\/hectare - about the same as much premier and grand cru Burgundy), with this much character, texture and interest, at this price level. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe wines spends time on its lees in concrete tanks and old casks, which gives incredible texture and palate weight to the wine.  Flinty, citrus, pear and white stone fruits that will develop with honey and orange blossom with time.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe firmly believe that Adi Badenhorst is the most exciting winemaker in South Africa. He is also the most frustrating. His laid back, self-deprecating, playful manner keeps you guessing and makes you wonder whether he has any idea what he is actually doing, whether he just chucks some grapes into a vat and hopes for the best, but we know full well that there is a huge amount of expertise that goes on behind closed doors, when no one is around to witness his skill and diligence ...and spoil his reputation!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BADENHORST","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55832506827138,"sku":"A2756125","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_8be0a579-808f-4813-a841-3de5f5b97346.jpg?v=1760689856"},{"product_id":"buiten-blanc-buitenverwachting-2025","title":"Buiten Blanc Buitenverwachting 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Buiten Blanc is wonderful. It's got nettles and blackcurrant on the nose and it's fruity and upbeat on the palate. I adore it. It's got that absolutely fabulous Constantia Sauvignon note that's less pungent than the Marlborough, NZ, style, but it's still nicely overt and brilliantly refreshing. The price is amazing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn any trip to South Africa, Buitenverwachting is almost always our first port of call on landing. It is the most wonderful place to sit and taste outside, and enjoy some fine food, with the ever-genial owner and host Lars Maack close by, aided by the brilliant Brad Paton, their highly talented winemaker.  Buitenverwachting is a historic Constantia estate, with the name meaning “Beyond Expectation.\" It originally formed part of the Constantia estate which was founded by Simon Van De Stel, the first Governor of the New Dutch Colony of The Cape, who we know planted vines on his farm. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BUITENVERWACHTING","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56167415611778,"sku":"A2916125","price":11.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_e66e3245-7141-4d12-a0df-7b5a99bd6212.png?v=1767779175"},{"product_id":"rondavel-hills-chenin-blanc-tembela-wines-2025","title":"Rondavel Hills Chenin Blanc 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-teams=\"true\"\u003eFrom the winner of South Africa's New Generation Winemaker of the Year, Banele Vakele of Tembela wines! Rondavel Hills Chenin Blanc is delicious. T\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehe nose has melon and peach, with a hint of chalkiness and minerality that comes across on the palate as a nice streak of citrus. It's full but not too full, showing tension and restraint. It drinks so easily. We had it with chicken and courgettes and it could not have been a better match. In fact, it slipped down so easily that we reached for a second bottle.  This will be excellent with so many dishes. But it's gorgeous to sip and have with nibbles. And it's only 12.5% alc!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"im\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eOld vine Chenin grown in the Swartland, produces this rich, texture and joyous wine that is bright and so nicely balanced too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eBanele grew up in Cape Town's largest township, Khayelitsha. He still lives there, looking after four younger siblings, after his mum died. He earned a scholarship to a Constantia high school and his classroom looked out over a vineyard, he sat there daydreaming about what life in wine would be like. He got a degree at Elsenberg Agricultural College and enrolled on the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Protégé programme, where he did stints in Burgundy, Oregon and Yarra Valley. The final stage was with Savage wines. Such was Duncan's fondness and respect for Banele as a person and winemaker, he was there for 7 year. Banele's wine, Tembela, is named after his mother, which means faith, hope and belief. \u003cspan class=\"im\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBanele has chosen the name Rondavel Hills for his other wines, as it reminds him of the huts dotted around the rolling hills in the Eastern Cape where he was born.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Rondavel Hills","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":56318735024514,"sku":"A7016125","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/img.png?v=1772806723"},{"product_id":"axle-chenin-blanc-natte-valleij-2025","title":"Axle Chenin Blanc Natte Valleij 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWe will be able to deliver from the 8th of June onwards.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a gorgeous Chenin Blanc made by Alex Milner, owner and winemaker of Natte Valleij. He is famous for stunningly pure Cinsaults from Darling and Stellenbosch, but he  started making a Chenin Blanc for his wife a few years ago, when she became fed up with only ever having red wine in the house. They hunted around to find the best grapes for their project and found a Darling vineyard planted in 1985, comprised of dry-farmed, ocean-facing bush vines on decomposed granite. The result is absolutely divine. I loved it! It's superb for the quality. And it's become, unexpectedly, very sought after. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe've known the lovely Alex Milner of Natte Valleij for many years. He used to come into our office over a decade ago waving his wines around leaving them for us to taste. But much of the work that has gone into these is via the exploration on his bicycle over years, covering thousands of kilometres to find old vineyards. To say he is a keen cyclist is an understatement! The block in Darling is a 165km cycle of pot-holed, dirt road and unforgiving terrain from the farm!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natte Valleij","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":56678009471362,"sku":"A7296125","price":24.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_a7053787-7a3e-4a47-9bef-369999c3a96d.jpg?v=1780042979"}],"url":"https:\/\/swig.co.uk\/collections\/grape-chenin-blanc\/region-darling.oembed","provider":"Swig Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}