Chenin Blanc

The 2013 Naude Old Vine Chenin remains a milestone SA wine. Having recently opened another bottle, it is immensely satisfying to follow it with the latest release of this same wine which, albeit made with fruit from a different vineyard, shows the same Ian Naude style. A light touch terroir driven wine, and not a single component out of place. Still rather shy to start, as is normally the case with Ian's chenin when young. However, from the first sip the weight, texture and balance are irresistible. It’s a very visceral wine with a dusty earthy texture, mixed with waxiness and salinity that envelops your palate, yet has a powerful acidic backbone gives it energy without being at all obvious. You’d be forgiven for asking, where's the Chenin acidity, at first. Yet, it’s there in spades, just so gentle and unobtrusive you hardly recognize it. Allowing the wine to sit in a glass whilst slowly warming up, finally releases a medley of rich tropical and stone fruit flavours that compliments the sublime structure and creates a joyous whole that elevates this above the 2020 in my book.