Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2020

I had so much fun when tasting the Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc. The question was simple: name the grape variety. And most people had it wrong: they thought it was a Chardonnay. Why? Because this wine is so rich on both the nose and palate, with a good deal of oak. If you like a rich white wine, this wine will impress you.

The grapes for this wine were hand-picked from 37-year-old vineyards near Tygerberg where sustainable dryland farming is practiced. The grapes were picked in four parcels and produced on the Spier farm in Stellenbosch, where they have strong indications that Chenin Blanc has a history of over 300 years at this farm. This wine is vegan friendly and organically certified.

In the glass, you have a yellow-gold colour white wine with hints of peach, oak spice and honeycomb on the nose. It delivers well on the palate with peaches, dried apricots, yellow pears, oak spice and a butter mouthfeel. It is very elegant on the palate with a perfect balance between fruit and acidity, but fresh throughout. This wine has a stony mineral finish that lingers for long.

The Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc is a true star that will impress your guests. Serve is chilled and probably open about 15 minutes before serving to breathe. This wine will go well on its own or can be enjoyed with poultry dishes or even a beef ribeye with green peppercorn sauce. This wine can also be left in the cellar for well up to 12 years.

Producer: Spier

Variety: Chenin Blanc 100%

Vintage: 2020

Origin: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

Winemaker: Johan Jordaan

Closure: Screwcap

Alcohol: 14.51%

RS: 4.3g/l

Average price: R290

Rating: 95/100