South Africa is a wine area that doesn’t get the accolades it really deserves. It’s not on most people’s go to list, and many wine lovers would be hard pressed to name more than a few wineries from this land, which boasts a long history of wine production. For many years that lack of reputation may have been justified, as the controlling wine laws drove the industry to mediocrity, but the last few decades have seen the industry blossom. Great wine can be found here in abundance.
We did a series on some wineries in Stellenbosch, South Africa a few years ago. You can start that thread here if interested. It will give you some history and background on South African wine, and also includes the winery which produced the bottle we’ll review here.
What you’ll find in South Africa is a mix of grapes and styles, from indigenous to international. There is a strong influence from the Loire Valley of France, and Cabernet Franc as well as Chenin Blanc are dominant players. This is great, as both produce some of our favorite wines. Chenin Blanc is right up there with Riesling as my favorite white wine grape. It is so versatile. Our wine today is a Chenin Banc, so let’s see what I am rambling about.
Wine: 2019 Simonsig Chenin Blanc
Winery Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: August 2020
Tasting Notes: very pretty, medium golden color. the nose is bright, with lemon, melon and apple aromas. On the palate it is also bright, with balanced acidity. The apple and citrus dominate the palate from a flavor perspective. There is also a tiny touch of anise. All in all this is an extremely well made and pleasing wine.
Price Point – $13.99 Suggested Retail Price. Great value.
Would We Buy It? – yes we would. This is a great value at $13.99 and will join our Value List. Simonsig makes quality wines across the board, so don’t hesitate if you see something of theirs and are tempted to try it.
A votre santé!
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