100% Chenin Blanc
Winemaker Notes
This show stopping Chenin displays lavish aromas of white flower, stone fruit, honey and toast which erupt into abundant flavors of honeyed pear, orange blossom, caramel and spice. It's a world class offering that strikes a brilliant balance between lush fruit and crisp, mouthwatering acidity.
94 points The Wine Advocate
The 2014 Reserve Chenin Blanc, which is matured in 25% new oak, has a crisp, reserved, stone rather than fruit-driven bouquet with a brush of jasmine and honeysuckle. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry, very smooth and lightly honeyed, building to a focused and satisfying finish - orange zest, dried apricot and shaved ginger all making an entrance and partying likes it's "1999" (or in this case, 2014). This is a superb Chenin Blanc, one of the finest that the Cape produced in 2014.
93 points Wine Enthusiast
There's a lovely vibrancy to the nose of this wine, as initial aromas of green melon and lime peel are laced with attractive herbal hits of fynbos and white flowers. The medium-weight palate offers a plush yet balanced feel, with ample acidity to counter the notes of toasted red apple, honeydew and honeycomb. Spicy wood tones dance on the lingering finish. It's delicious now, but should age well through 2021.
91 points Vinous / Antonio Galloni
Sexy subtle perfume of peach and dusty nutmeg. Then saline, tightly coiled and very concentrated, conveying a lovely sweetness but also terrific inner-mouth energy to the stone and soft citrus fruits. Finishes firmly phenolic but not at all dry. This wine fermented naturally in the barrel, and was then aged for eight months in one-third new French oak. This is the only vineyard the Appelbaums kept when they purchased the estate in 2004. "They were bush vines; we simply lifted their skirts," said Wendy Appelbaum.
90 points Wine Spectator
Fresh, with a racy edge to the citrus peel, green plum and orange blossom notes, followed by a juicy-edged finish. Shows excellent length and range.
