Quinta Essentia Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc 2019

Maybe the best example of Chenin Blanc period.

Sourced from five different dry-farmed vineyards, of which the oldest vines are 77 years old, the 2018 Chenin Blanc displays a soft gold color with hints of copper on the rim. The nose wafts with tones of dusty citrus and a mineral-laced floral essence, with kumquat elements, pineapple husk and citrus blossom in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine offers an impressive weight across the mid-palate with notable oak expressions that unfold to be broad-shouldered and food-friendly with energetic acidity. The wine ends with a long, lingering finish and a kiss of phenolic bitterness (typical for this grape), begging me back for another sip. Made from native yeasts, this was barrel fermented in 300-liter oak barrels—20% new—and allowed to rest for 12 months before bottling.

A Wine Guy Selection