Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2021
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The wine is bright in appearance, with a nose of fresh pears, ripe apricots and subtle oak spice from maturation of just over 40% of the blend in large, neutral oak barrels and Foudres. The firmly textured wine displays a fine crisp neutral acidity penetrating the length of the palate, supporting flavours of ripe Granny Smith apples and cinnamon spice. As with all wines of pedigree, the length of the finish is a mark of the wonderful concentration of fruit flavour and balance often achieved through the use of mature vineyards, as is the case here.
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A lithe, lively white, offering a pretty overtone of elderflower and other white blossoms, with a subtle streak of minerality underscoring a hint of preserved lemon and flavors of juicy Asian pear, blanched almond and pickled ginger.
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Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.