Stellenrust makes a lineup of some stellar Chenin Blanc and their Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc appears to be the master of lot, even more esteemed than the barrel fermented version that is numbered in sequence with age of the vines on the bottle each vintage, the current release being the ‘53’ from the 2017 vintage (5 Star Platter). There is very little information about this wine other than it is sourced from a 30 plus year old vineyard block, planted on granitic soils that sits high up in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch. We have never seen this wine reviewed, or listed in the Platter Guide and even crazier; the winery’s website makes no reference to it. Old bush vine material that makes stellar wine is about all we can say. We get an opportunity to try some top shelf Chenin Blanc out of the Cape and this stands shoulder to shoulder with everything we have tried.
This is a wine with great presence that has flown completely under the radar. Captivating visuals showcase a vibrant yellow core with a green hue leading into a very intriguing and expressive nose. Notes of white flowers/honeysuckle ovelay peach and citrus tones with touch of lees as well as a hint of vanilla/oak spice help’s define the wine’s captivating aromatics. The palate is rich, layered and generous, with a countering undercurrent of tangy, highlighting acidity that drives this to exceptionally long finish that seems to go on forever. As gorgeous as it is now, this has the structural backbone that suggests this should age beautifully over the next 5 – 10 years, where it will take on all kinds of interesting nuances and characteristics. This is a strong statement for Cape Chenin Blanc and why it is one of the best values in the world. This exceptional and in light of its pricing is tremendous value. It’s pretty hard to find this kind of quality at this price point.